#wow!!! look at the frost on that feather

[studentinpursuitofclouds]

can you write bachelors with a cryptid farmer? except they're not a cryptid, just a very strange person. and by that I mean the fact farmer will simply appear one day, start giving their love interest their loved items from the get go, character doesn't even know them! and then there's the fishing in weird places, always seeming to know where and what a character is doing, always running from one place to another, sometimes passing out in the deepest depths of the caves. very weird human.

I assume, dear anon, that you mean vanilla bachelors only. Hope I'm not wrong. Anyway, thanks for asking, and enjoy! 💖🫰

_________________________________________

SDV bachelors with a cryptid Farmer:

Well, Sam wasn't too surprised about favourite gifts - he's always a fan of eating something tasty, and pizza, as he thinks, is a win-win for almost everyone. So it's pretty easy to guess what to make him happy. Although the young guitarist sometimes thought that Farmer behaves rather recklessly and weird, the same words were said about Sam when he stuffed 40 marshmallows into his mouth on a bet. A bit odd, but Sam doesn't care, because Farmer is a good friend and, heck yeah, free food!

They're everywhere: at Marnie's ranch, at the JojaMart, at the Saloon. Shane is already afraid to look over his own shoulder, because there, with 99.9 % accuracy, Farmer will be behind him. No matter how much the chicken lover snapped at Farmer, no matter how much he calling them names, they stood like a statue, handing him a plate of pepper poppers. This weirdo is literally stalking him, but no-one's paying attention! The hell?! Although the peppers are tasty and spicy enough, can't argue with that. Wow, what a fucking life...

Poor Harvey has been sitting up late at night looking at Farmer's medical records and he's already getting a headache from trying to find some logic. Farmer still keep going to dangerous places, keep getting seriously injured (4 emergencies in a month!), and their wounds just inhumanly heal in a couple of days! How does that even possib- Farmer? How did you get in here? The clinic's closed. Oh, wine? For him? Why, thank you, it's his favorite- !!!! They- they just teleported right in front of Harvey.... The doctor won't need a wineglass anymore, he's gonna drink right from the bottle.

Yes, Elliott must confess: after a couple of instances when the writer had not even got beyond the threshold of his cottage and he had already been handed a duck feather and a basket of pomegranates by the Farmer, one could find them very strange. But you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Maybe Farmer just has a hard time finding the words to communicate and this is how they express signs of friendship? And fishing... What's the big deal about fishing? The valley is rich in fish, so why be surprised that there are fish almost everywhere? Anyway, Elliott decides to judge people for their actions.

Alex should probably be concerned about Farmer's strange behaviour, but he... didn't care? Pelican Town was already full of people the athlete considered a bit odd, so why should he be surprised by the new Farmer's odd behaviour? They go everywhere, they fish everywhere, so what? It's their life. Though to Alex's recollection, regular farmers don't seem to fight monsters deep in the Mines, but then again, maybe that's their hobby. Plus Farmer give him his favourite salmon dinner all the time, so what's there to complain about?

Sebastian never seemed to have mentioned to anyone that he liked obsidian and frost tear so much. So he has no idea how the new farmer might know about it. Though, on the other hand, they're always carrying a bag of various cool gems from the mine and decided to give him something, so maybe a coincidence. Later there was a case where they stood right under the door of his room to hand him sashimi (also his favourite?) and ran off somewhere. Okay, that's pretty weird. There's sashimi, though.

[tetheredfeathers]

A little something I wrote inspired by this line.

Never having been in love, this is going to be a real trick. I think of my parents, the way my father never failed to bring her gifts from the woods.

She always brought him something from the woods.

The first time she brought him a single dandelion.

It had been a long winter, and the sun had only begun to peek through the cold shadows. It had been a good hunt today, with 2 rabbits and a squirrel shot right through the eyes. Her short dark hair tickled her neck as she practically skipped back home.

That's when she saw it – the first spring flower, a lone dandelion lurking between the wet shadows. She scurried towards it and quickly plucked it, almost afraid it would run away if she wasn't fast enough.

"Peetaaa," her voice rang through the house as she peeled off her shoes and hung her father's hunting jacket on the hooks Peeta had installed for her.

"In here," Peeta called from the kitchen.

She found him all serious, wrinkle between his eyebrows as he kneaded some dough. She skirted towards him wanting kiss the lines between his eyes.

"Hi, bread boy," she whispered sweetly before kissing the frosting off his lips.

"Hi," he said in between kisses

"Mhm, vanilla." Katniss breathed licking his lips.

"Here, try this," he said, spreading a thick layer of icing on a cinnamon roll and handing it her.

"Mhmm, so good. Thank you baby," she said between huge mouthfuls.

"I got you something from town today," Peeta sang, reaching into his pockets.

"Show me, show me," Katniss almost begged.

"You know Thom's little sister, Darlene," she nodded. "Yeah, well, she was really happy with her birthday cake and wanted to give me something in return."

He pulled out a long strip of transparent lace.

Katniss' face broke into a huge smile. "A ribbon? What does she think you're 12 to go around wearing ribbons?" she teased.

"Be nice, Katniss, she's only five. I doubt she knows how to gift a grown man," Peeta said.

"You do know she has a crush on you, right?" Katniss said, grabbing another cinnamon roll, stuffing her mouth once again.

"Who doesn't?" Peeta sassed, swaying his hips.

"I don't," Katniss rolled her eyes.

"Oh really?" he eyed her mischievously before grabbing her arms, leaving all but an inch between their sugary lips. "I wouldn't be too sure about that."

She shuddered involuntarily. Even after a year of being with him, just being near him made her weak in the knees. His warm hands slid down her arms before gently turning her around so that her back faced him. Slowly, he brought his hands up to her hair, bunching half her hair into a ponytail and tying the flimsy lace into a bow.

She turned around, beaming in his arms, peering into those blue eyes.

"Wow, birdie, look at yourself."

She blushed bright red before pulling out her dandelion from underneath the table.

"For you," she said shyly, holding it right under his face.

"Thank you, birdie," he said, delicately taking it from her hands as if it would slip from his grasp like water.

Her blush deepened. She loved it when he called her that. It reminded her of her father, that he was still a part of her, and just like him, she still sang wild and free. A bird that's what she was.

"You're my dandelion in the spring, you know that, right?" she whispered.

"I know," he whispered back, burying her mouth in long, warm kiss.

After that, she brought him something every day. Sometimes it would be tufts of dill or rye. Other times, she would bring him shiny stones that reminded her of the color of his eyes. Sometimes a feather or a leaf, but mostly she brought him flowers. She brought him wild onions because it reminded her of the day she broke her heart. She brought him daisies because they were as pure and white like his soul. She brought him sunflowers because he was her sun and followed him everywhere he went.

He kept a whole shelf dedicated to her gifts and pressed the flowers inside his notebook. It helped remind him that all was not lost on the more difficult days when she could not get out of bed or talk to him.

And on the night they conceived their first child, she whispered into his arms.

"I'm going to call her Dandelion."

[glitterrosesnzz]

okay so technically it's not the 25th where I am yet- its two hours until midnight- but listen the go ahead message came in and im far too hyped to wait so-

@casspikaeyaliker i was your assigned snalentine this year!!! i returned to my roots for this one shdlfkjssdhflksjs

Venti climbed in through the window of Kaeya’s office. 

“Good afternoon, Sir Kaeya!” He said, like this was a completely normal occurrence despite Kaeya’s incredulous look. “How are you doing today?” 

“...Fine.” Kaeya slowly answered, watching as Venti closed the window behind him, readjusting his clothes as he seemingly settled in. “To what do I owe the pleasure of having Mondstadt’s number one bard in my office?” 

“Psh, nothing much, what, can’t I just visit a friend from time to time?” Venti asked, “Oh, by the way, do you usually keep your door locked?” 

“Yes, and I normally keep my window locked as well-” 

“Do you mind if I stretch a bit then?” 

Now that was a follow-up question Kaeya hadn’t been expecting. Despite the innocent look on Venti’s face when he had asked it, something about it seemed… suspicious. Still though, Kaeya thought, subtly rubbing his nose against his sleeve, it wasn’t a request that screamed danger. 

“Sure, be my guest-” Kaeya cut himself up with a startled yelp, shooting out of his seat and pressing his back against the wall to be as far away from Venti as possible as a pair of white wings suddenly emerged from the bard’s back. “Hey!” 

“What’s the matter? You’re not scared of birds, right?” Venti looked slightly smug as he shook his wings a little, various loose feathers falling to the floor as evidence that his wings had not been let out in quite a while. “Unless… well, no, surely that’s not it? Certainly the feathers cannot be bothering you at this distance… or maybe, is our dear Calvary Captain’s nose a bit more sensitive than usual today?” 

Kayea almost imperceptibly tensed. Venti should’ve been right, the feathers shouldn’t be bothering him at this distance, but… he could already feel his nose begin itching, and he couldn’t tell if it was from the allergy or- 

…Venti had a very knowing look on his face. Kaeya sighed.

“How did you know?” He asked, slumping a little, allowing a little bit of how horrible he actually felt right now to slip into his posture as he ran a finger under his nose, trying to quell the slight itch before it could evolve any further. 

“Oh, well, a mysterious red-headed bartender mentioned that one of his… informants, happened to overhear a certain knight sneezing his head off in an alleyway last night.” 

Ah. So the person he had only barely avoided running into last night had been the famed ‘Darknight Hero’. Apparently Kaeya hadn’t managed to stifle his sneezes to silence as well as he thought he had…

…His damn brother didn’t know how to keep his mouth shut. 

“While that is an interesting story, that still doesn’t ex-... explain why you’re hh-here…” The tickle in Kaeya’s nose flared, and he rubbed at it a bit more harshly. Venti let out a laugh. 

“Well, it certainly won’t do to have you working while sick, would it? No, I’m here to take you home so that you can rest.” He said, crossing his arms with a smug look on his face that normally Kaeya would’ve responded to with some kind of sassy remark, but- 

“Hh-hiH’NGTsh-iu!! Heh- H’NTCh-uu!! Hh’ISHi-uu!” Ah, shoot, he hadn’t been able to stifle that last one, a small layer of frost covering the arm he had subconsciously raised to his face. The tickle still hadn’t gone away, the three sneezes simply being unsatisfactory for it, and Kaeya tried to resist the urge to just instantly sneeze again and get it over with. He failed. “H’ItCHhi-uu!! HhiH- …hH’iSShu!!

“Oh, wow.” Venti’s wings folded up and then vanished as though they were never there. “Diluc wasn’t kidding, you do sound horrible.” 

“Snf…It’s just a cold, it sounds worse than it actually is.” Kaeya said, ignoring the doubtful look Venti shot his way. “I can work through it-” 

“Kaeya, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but you’ve covered the entire floor around you in frost.” Venti said, pointing downwards, Kaeya following his gaze to find that he was right, the floor was now covered in a thin layer of swirling frost. “Not to mention the fact that the temperature in here dropped by at least two degrees, and it was already freezing in here when I came in. It’s a wonder that you haven’t noticed.” 

“It just doesn’t bother me that much.” Kaeya carefully stepped onto the frost, only slightly worried about slipping, trying to make his way back to his office chair. “Cryo vision and all. Like I was saying I can handle it- hH’IShh-uu!!” 

Damn. That one had snuck up on him. 

“Nu-uh, don’t think I’m falling for that one Sir Kaeya.” Venti said, “I’m going to be taking you home, whether you like it or not.” 

“But what about Jean?” 

“I got her permission earlier-” 

“Ah. Is that what the scream this morning was about? You came in through her window didn’t you-” 

“Enough talk about my choices in how to enter buildings.” Venti interrupted, “Jean says you can have the day off, so you’re. Going. Home.” 

Well. Kaeya honestly didn’t think he had the option to say no to that. 

“Isn’t this encroaching on my right to freedom?” Kaeya asked, as Venti stepped forwards to grab hold of his wrist. 

“You can be free when what you’re doing isn’t detrimental to your health.” Venti sighed, muttering something under his breath about how ‘you brothers are exactly alike’, which, Kaeya didn’t really get what he meant by that, but he figured he wasn’t exactly in the position to ask. Venti’s hand tightened around Kaeya’s wrist. “Hold on tight.” 

“You’re the one holding onto me- wait why would I need to-” Kaeya didn’t get the chance to finish his question, as a surge of anemo picked up around them, and, between one blink and the next, Kaeya found himself standing in the foyer of Dawn Winery. “This. Is not my apartment.” 

“No, but it’s still your home isn’t it?” Venti sounded way too certain when he said that, and, well, technically Kaeya couldn’t consider him wrong, but… Before he could answer, Venti’s expression suddenly shifted to a guilty one. “Ah… oops.” 

A stray feather, that must’ve been caught up in the teleportation winds, drifted down and just lightly brushed past Kaeya’s nose. But still, it was enough. 

“Hah-hH! H’NGtsh-uu!!” Kaeya freed his wrist from Venti’s grasp, quickly using his hand to stifle a sneeze. But of course, this cold of his wasn’t just going to accept that. “HihH’NtCh-uu!! Heh- hH’NGTchii!! ‘Ntch!!! Hih- hH-! H’ISHi-uu!! Hh’iTCHi-uu!!” 

“Jeez, you sound worse than you did last night.” 

Both Kaeya and Venti startled at the sound of Diluc’s voice, turning around to see him standing in the doorway. Kaeya sniffled, taking a second to rub a finger against his nose and insure that he wasn’t going to sneeze again before responding. 

“And how would you know that? I thought it was one of your, ‘informants’, that had seemingly overheard me last night.” 

Diluc almost imperceptibly stiffened, before relaxing. 

“After hearing what my informant told me, I went to check on you myself.” He said, turning to walk into the dining room. “Don’t think about it too hard. Adeline’s made your favourite soup, by the way. You should come and eat.” 

Well. Kaeya most certainly couldn’t say no to Adeline’s soup, now could he. 

[chloe-spade]

Frozen Heart Act One: Dangerous to Dream

Silver snored softly as he slept on his bed. He was so deep in sleep that he didn't hear Lilia knocking on his door, trying to get him ready.

"Silver?" He called out. "Silver? Are you still sleeping? You know today's a speacial day."

A louder knock jolted Silver awake, and he rushed towards the door and opened it.

"Ah, awake at least," Lilia laughed. "You looked like you stayed awake for too long."

Silver huffed, "I was talking with Malleus."

"Have you forgotton about today?"

"Uh, no? Did I?" Silver yawned.

"It's Malleus's Coronation."

Silver jumped. "Oh! You're right!! I forgot."

"No, no, don't worry, the maids will be here for a moment, but I will have to see that things go well."

"Go on," Silver spoke, "I'll be with you."

Lilia smiled as he walked away, and maids rushed in to help Silver with his outfit. Silver couldn't help but feel excited for such a big day.

🌷

The window is open!

So's that door!

I didn't know they did that anymore

And there's two nice ladies helping me get dressed

🌷

"Thank you! Thanks!" Silver cried out as he rushed out, looking down at the halls.

🌷

For years I've roamed these empty halls

Why have a ballroom with no balls?

Coronation day is just the best!

There'll be actual, real-life people

It'll be totally strange

But wow am I so ready for this change!

🌷

Silver found a way to climb towards the castle roof, watching as the sun reflected in the fjord waters and the beautiful smell of summer filled the air. He liked the change of being outside again, though it had been a while ever since Lilia's return.

🌷

For the first time in forever

There'll be music, there'll be light

For the first time in forever

I'll be dancing through the night

🌷

Silver slid down towards the gardens, and the duck and her ducklings greeted them. They looked up at Silver with confusion and awe. Silver kneeled and opened his hands, letting the ducklings climb on his palms.

🌷

Don't know if I'm elated or gassy

But I'm somewhere in that zone

'Cause for the first time in forever

I won't be alone

🌷

Silver giggles as he felt the newly born ducklings on his palms, feeling the soft feathers with him

"I can't wait to meet everyone!" Silver beamed, but a gasp left his mouth. "Oh, what if I meet the one?"

Silver left the gardens and found himself in the newly decorated ballroom. He laughed as he thought of him full of people, dancing in the middle of the night like he always wanted.

🌷

Tonight, imagine me, gown and all

Fetchingly draped against the wall

The picture of sophisticated grace

I suddenly see him standing there

A beautiful stranger, tall and fair

I wanna stuff some chocolate in my face

But then we laugh and talk all evening

Which is totally bizarre

Nothing like the life I've led so far

🌷

Silver couldn't help but sneak some chocolate without even the chefs noticing, laughing. He remembered how he and Malleus always sneaked into the kitchen to get some chocolates and knew those memories hurt, but he found himself back at the art gallery and looked around to see the paintings he used to speak to whenever he was bored.

🌷

For the first time in forever

There'll be magic, there'll be fun

For the first time in forever

I could be noticed by someone

🌷

Silver gasped as he felt a breeze behind him as he jumped again, but it wasn't bad. It was oddly welcoming.

🌷

And I know it is totally crazy

To dream I'd find romance

But for the first time in forever

At least I've got a chance!

🌷

Silver watched a snowflake pass him. Confused, he followed, but Silver stopped as he reached a railing, but he watched as the snowflake flew away.

Back in his room, Malleus shook nervously, looking out the window. It was his coronation day, but he didn't want to celebrate it. So many bad things could happen, and he didn't know he could live up to his late mother's legacy.

❄️

Don't let them in

Don't let them see

Be the good boy

You always have to be

❄️

Malleus gulped and felt the makeshift items in his hands froze, frost appearing underneath. Scared, he put them down.

❄️

Conceal, don't feel

Put on a show

Make one wrong move

And everyone will know

❄️

Malleus shook his head softly before putting his gloves back on.

❄️

But it's only for today

It's only for today!

It's agony to wait

It's agony to wait!

Tell the guards to open up the gate!

The gate!

The gate

The gate

The gates!

❄️

Silver lit up once he saw the gates open and finally saw the townspeople celebrating the day. Silver looked back at the balcony where Malleus was seen and waved at him.

Malleus smiles and waves back, watching Silver depart with a fake smile that shamefully hides his nervousness.

🌷

For the first time in Forever (Don't let them in)

I'm getting (Don't let them see)

What I'm dreaming

Of (Be the good boy, You always have to be)

A chance to leave my lonely

World (Conceal)

A chance to find true love

(Conceal, don't feel)

For the first time! (Don't let them know!)

❄️

Silver stopped to see the flower maidens dance and sing together, and the townspeople joined in with a joyous cheer.

🌷

For the first time in forever

We're no longer shut outside

For the first time in forever

The gates are open wide!

🌷

Silver was pulled into a den and laughed as he was given a flower crown. His first day outside the walls made him incredibly happy, but he knew that today was only today, and they wouldn't even do this tomorrow—or even years, so this had to be the day.

🌷

I know it all ends tomorrow

So it has to be today!

'Cause for the first time

In forever! (The first time)

For the first time

In forever (The first time in forever)

Nothing's in my way!

Today!

🌷

Everyone gasped as Silver bumped into someone else, and the stranger held him.

"Hello," the man laughed. "I didn't expect such a young beautiful man to get this close."

Silver blushed and got up. "I'm sorry for bumping into you. I, I was excited."

"Oh, no, please don't apologize," the man laughed. "I heard it all—the Kingdom with the closed gates, as rumors foretold. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Louis of the Southern Isles, and you?"

"Prince Silver of Arendelle."

"Oh, I didn't know."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Silver pondered, a little offended.

"Well, I was only told that the Queen had only one son," chuckled Loius. "I mean, you don't exactly look like the queen and the prince, so I didn't know she had another child."

"You certainly didn't do any research," Silver huffed. "If you did, you would know that the Kingdom has been in rule under King Lilia after the Queen's unfornate passing and I was taken in by him."

"Oh, that was so rude of me." Loius sighed. "I deeply apologize."

"I'm leaving," Silver turned around to leave but felt Louis stop him.

"Wait, don't go," Louis begged. "Allow me to explain my awful behavior."

🐴

'Cause I'm someone even more embarrassing to be

I'm only the thirteenth son of a king

Of a very small kingdom

Of very small islands to the South

And nobody sings about this humble face

Or my lack of grace

Or quotes what comes out of my mouth

Thank goodness

I've journeyed a long way to see your sister crowned

To honor and to back you

Yet here I go and smack you to the ground

Please accept the humblest of the apologies

From a clumsy prince who's only come to serve and please

With a line of mean, big brothers

That goes on for miles

A man you won't see in a statue of bronze

Just Louis of the Southern Isles

🐴

"Hi, Louis of the Southern Isles," Silver nodded.

"And hello to you, Silver of Arendelle." Louis bowed down.

Silver gasped as he heard the bells and backed up. "The Bells, the coronation! Alright, you are forgiven, but I have to go. I can see you soon."

Silver waved and rushed back to the Coronation Hall, watching the people stare a little but managed to stand by Lilia.

"Ah, just in time," Lilia chimed. "What happened to you, my son?"

"Just a prince," Silver answered honestly, looking down.

"Oh? May I know about this prince?" Lilia teased.

"No, that prince was an obnoxious jerk," muttered Silver. "He didn't even know who I was."

"Ah, sounds like someone from the Southern Isles," Lilia nodded. "Always the last kingdom to know anything about worldly news."

But the talking stopped as the women stood up, and music filled the air.

🪻

Na na na heia na

Na hi ja na

King anointed

King anointed

King anointed

King anointed

Our chosen son

With blessed crown of gold

Northern glory, our golden brother

The heir to kings of old

Let our voice this sacred hour

Sing, praise, and bring to light your power

(Bring to light your power)

Noble King of our Northern lands

We are in your hands

🪻

The song slowly ends as the doors open, revealing Malleus. Hesitating, he slowly walks forward, looking at the people around him. He knows how much he is now depended on as their future king, but he fears letting them down. His steady breathing helps him control his power.

❄️

I can't be what you expect of me

But I'm trying every day with all I do

And do not say

Here on the edge of the abyss

Knowing everything in my whole life has led to this

And so I pull inside myself

Close the walls, put up my guard

I practice every single day for this

So why is it so hard?

'Cause I can't show you

I'm not as cold as I seem

There are things you cannot know

And it's dangerous to dream

❄️

Malleus was only halfway there, but seeing Silver happy for him calmed his heart. He knew why he was doing this and why he was even walking down this aisle.

❄️

I know I'll never see that sunny day

When this trial is finally through

And it could just be me and you

I can't dwell on what we've lost

And how secrecy and silence come at such a cost

I wish I could tell the truth

Show you who's behind the door

I wish you knew what all this pantomime

And pageantry was for

I have to be so cautious

And you're so extreme

We're different, you and I

And it's dangerous to dream

❄️

But Malleus's head started to fill with those horrid thoughts as he went closer and closer. Everything went dark; the only memory was that day when he almost killed Silver. If he could hurt his brother, nothing could stop him from harming everyone else.

❄️

It's dangerous to wish

I could make choices of my own

Dangerous to even have that thought

I'm dangerous just standing here

For everyone to see

If I let go of rules

Who knows how dangerous I'd be?

❄️

"Your Majesty," called the Bishop, "You have to take off the gloves."

❄️

Why right now would I make this mistake?

How could I let my concentration break?

❄️

"Conceal... Don't feel..." Malleus started to chant, closing his eyes. "Conceal... Don't feel...Conceal... Don't feel..."

"Sem hon heldr inum helgum eignum Ok krýnd í þessum helga stað. Ek té fram fyrir yðr...," The Bishop chanted before pausing. "King Malleus of Arendelle!"

❄️

King anointed

Our chosen son

Our blessed king, behold!

❄️

As Malleus put his gloves back on, everything became a blur. He was rushed towards the ballroom, where he stood tall before the people who danced and congratulated him.

For Malleus, he felt relief.

❄️

I can't believe that I'm standing here

Did I really make it through?

❄️

"Mother, I did it!" Malleus whispered, looking up at the new stars that appeared.

❄️

Now, what do I do?

I can't stop smiling, how strange

Does this mean that things are different?

Could they really change?

And could I open up that door

And finally see you, face to face?

I guess a king can change the rules

But not the reasons they're in place

❄️

"Now annoncing, Prince Silver of Arendelle."

Silver walked in, waving at everyone, wondering how close he should be to Malleus. But the brothers stood side by side, and the guests' claps made them happy.

Malleus looks back at Silver with a smile.

❄️

I can't be what you expect of me

And I'm not what I seem

But I would love to know you

Is it dangerous to dream?

❄️

Malleus took one more sigh before walking towards Silver. "Hi there."

"Oh, hi yourself," Silver smiled and looked down. "So, you're the king now, hmm? Anything plans?"

"Ah, I am not quite sure," Malleus chuckled. "I can't believe this day has come, yet I'm shaking."

"I get it, but I'm so happy for you." Silver confessed. "You were so nervous yesterday and now you stand with pride."

"I hope not too much pride," Malleus joked. "As King, I might order the whole supply of ice cream for myself with everything else. But I suppose that would leave the children upset."

Silver and Malleus shared a massive laugh.

"Excuse me," coughed a young man.

"Oh, yes?" Malleus spoke up.

"Your highness," spoken the announcer, "This is Duke Adam of Weasolton."

"Wessolton!" Adam corrected and straightened his bow. "Pardon me, but I am quite an old friend of your father and I was hoping to give the King his first dance."

Adam bowed, and his blond back hair flopped over, causing both Silver and Malleus to almost fall to the floor, laughing.

"I'm sorry," Malleus took a breath. "But to tell you the truth, I am not a good dancer."

"Yes, you are," Silver murmured. "Don't be dishonest."

"But my brother is," Malleus looked over at Silver with a glint in his eyes. "I can tell you that he is much more better than I am."

"Hold on-!!"

Silver was dragged over to the ballroom, but he stood tall and watched Adam dance around him—just as goofy as Silver had predicted.

"So. Lilia has told me about your connection with the animals, and I have to wonder," Adam said. "You must be impressed with my animal dances so far."

"Not really," Silver muttered, looking down.

"Oh, well, do you prefer the ole slow dance? " Adam said, bringing Silver close and trying to dance with him. "You look the type."

Silver didn't say anything else as he dipped down. He could see Malleus's face full of glee and delight, which made Silver roll his eyes.

Malleus continued to watch. Suddenly, a sweet smell came up to his nose, and his eyes looked over at a man with a glass filled with rose-colored liquid.

"What an odd but delightful smell," Malleus muttered.

"Oh, would you like a taste, your highness?" asked the man. "Perhaps you are parched?"

"No thank you," Malleus declined. "But I do thank you, um..?"

"Louis, Louis of the Southern Isles," Louis bowed.

"Oh, it's a pleasure to meet you, but I still decline the offer. Thank you regardless. Please have a great time." Malleus smiles.

Malleus watched the prince walk away as the music ended, and Silver rushed back to Malleus's side, looking a little nauseous.

"Had a good time?"

"....You suck," Silver muttered. "I can't believe you did that."

"Well, they are consequences." Malleus laughed. "I couldn't help myself."

"Well, can't say I didn't enjoy it," Silver smiles. "I mean, I really am happy. Being with you again and us, just talking to each other like old friends, and not just awkward from the distance. No maids, butlers, teachers trying to sperate us and you and I, just here. Together again."

"...Hmm," Malleus nodded and looked down.

He knew why he couldn't be so close to Silver and why it was impossible now. His powers were redacted, but even an ounce of calm couldn't keep that storm inside for long, and if the day that storm came out, Malleus didn't want Silver to be the target of such a storm.

"But, I can't be with you long," Malleys sighed.

"Why not?" Silver protested. "You are the king now, and you have a choice, yet you still choose to keep a distance from me? What did I ever do to deserve this?"

"...I just can't," Malleus just answered.

Silver sighs and walks away, ignoring Mallues's sorrowful look. He looked over but was so distracted when a man bumped into him, leaving him again in Loius's arms.

"Hey, you look distracted," Louis spoke up softly. "Maybe a drink could help?"

Silver stood up and followed Louis to the food table. He was given a glass and took a sip, just managing to collect his emotions.

"How about a dance? Just you and me?" Louis offered. "Might take your minds off things."

"You know what? Yes, I would love a dance."

Silver nodded, and they started dancing, which made everyone else dance with them. But as the night continued, Silver and Louis began to talk in the gardens, which made Silver feel better.

"Hey," Louis spoke up. "I wasn't going to ask this but I am curious. What's with the blue?"

Silver put his hand over his blue hair strands before answering, "I was told I was born with it, but I don't know why I don't believe them. I had a strange dream of a cold kiss on my forehead, and that's when I noticed it for the first time."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Hm, at least you have such honest parents," Louis spoke. "Mine wouldn't even care if I disappear from the earth entirely."

"Don't say that," Silver comforted. "I bet your family cares about you."

"Half of my brothers acted like I was invisible for so long that I was convinced that I was. They like to shut me out of their planning since they are older," Louis explained. "I was only five years younger than my 12th brother, but I was treated like an outcast, an inconvenience. It hurts to have siblings sometimes."

"I suppose I can relate," Silver sighed. "My older brother and I were close despite our massive age gap, but one day, he just shut me out. Sure, we have our moments, but it ends with us being separated again. I wished I knew why, but I couldn't shake off this horrible feeling whenever we had to be separated. Does he even love me like a brother, or was it in my head?"

"Well, perhaps you should learn that for youself."

"Okay, can I just - say something crazy?"

"I love crazy!"

🌷

All my life has been a series of doors in my face

And then suddenly I bump into you

🌷

"I was thinking the same thing! 'Cause, like..."

🐴

I've been searching my whole life

To find my own place

And maybe it's the party talking

Or the chocolate fondue

But with you

But with you

I found my place

I see your face

And it's nothing like I've ever known before

🌷

Silver grabbed Loius and was surprised to see that Loius had jumped to the next balcony and danced with him. They were not seen by anyone else as they sneaked away outside of the ballroom.

🌷

Love is an open door!

Love is an open door!

Love is an open door

With you!

With you!

With you!

With you!

Love is an open door

🌷

Silver and Loius laughed as they sat at the royal stables, looking at the stars above them.

"Wow, the view is beautiful," Silver smiles, looking at the stars.

"Absoulouty beautiful," Loius agreed while looking at Silver. "I mean it's crazy!"

"What?"

"We finish each others'—"

Silver didn't pay much attention as he smelled the nearby scent of sandwiches, which made him hungry.

🌷

Sandwiches!

That's what I was gonna say!

I've never met someone

🐴

Silver hummed as Loius grabbed his hand and climbed onto a nearby watch tower, a much more secluded place for them. Silver didn't know why, but he couldn't question Loius. He found himself enamored.

🐴

Who thinks so much like me

Jinx. Jinx again!

Our mental synchronization

Can have but one explanation

You

And I

Were

Just

Meant to be

🌷

It was the most romantic dance that Silver had ever done, dancing by the docks as the stars beamed down onto him and Loius as they danced close by. Silver felt his old worries and pain disapeered whenever he was with Louis, which made him very happy.

🐴

Say goodbye

Say goodbye

To the pain of the past

We don't have to feel it anymore!

Love is an open door!

Love is an open door!

Life can be so much more

With you!

With you!

With you!

With you!

Love is an open —

🌷

Back at the ballroom, Lilia couldn't find Silver and was worried about his youngest son. It was odd that Silver even sneaked out in the first place. He stopped when he was younger after he and Malleus had to be separated. Lilia chuckled at the moment when those boys were caught sneaking out and were by the gardens repeatedly; they never seemed to got old of that garden.

"Malleus?" Lilia spoke. "Have you seen Silver? I haven't seen him at all."

"No. I regrettably haven't," Malleus answered.

"He never sneaks out, not so sneakily," Lilia sighed. "Maybe he is with someone else."

"Oh, I have seen him talk to the man of the Southern Isles," Malleus mentioned. "Perhaps they have entered a courtship?"

"For the love of the fates, I hope not," Lilia mumbled.

Meanwhile, Silver and Louis hid beneath a waterfall, laughing together again. Silver didn't want to leave; he was so happy with Louis that it hurt to even think of leaving him.

"Can I say something crazy?" Louis laughed, looked over at Silver, and took his hand. "Will you marry me?"

Silver gasped and couldn't help but feel his heart flutter as the words left his mouth.

"Can I say something crazier? Yes!" Silver cheered.

Love is an open door!

🌷

Love is an open door!

Life can be so much more

With you!

With you!

With you!

With you!

Love is an open

Love is an open

Door!

🐴

Silver and Louis gasped as the door behind them opened, and both fell onto the ground. They were so excited to announce their new engagement that they forgot that the door would open automatically.

"Silver! Thank the fates you came back!" Lilia gasped and rushed over to his son. Where have you two been all night? I was worried."

"Father, I had the greatest time tonight," Silver beamed. "Louis and I...well, Louis, do you want to tell them?"

"Tell us what?" Malleus questioned, stepping forward.

"Are you sure you want me to tell them?" Louis asked Silver, holding his hand. "I mean, they are your family."

"Well, yes, but,"

"Oh, just spill it already! This old man can't take it," Lilia groaned.

"I want you to give me your blessing to marry your son!" Louis announced.

"Pardon?" Malleus questioned.

"I know, you don't have to give it now," Silver reassured. "We can wait obviously, and of couse, when you guys do, we have a lot of-"

"Silver," Malleus coughed. "May we, uh, talk alone? Just you and me?"

"Why? I mean, if you have something to say, wether good or bad, you can just tell me."

Mallues took a breath and looked over at Silver. "Alright. Silver, as your older brother, I highly suggest you wait for at least a year. You can't marry you first met."

"...I suppose..."

"Why not?" Louis asked. "Not to be prude, your highness, but Silver and I truly love each other and love is hardly something to wait on."

"Yes, I have to agree," Silver spoke. "We love each other very much."

"Silver, no offense, but you have no idea what love is," Malleus said bluntly. "It's not that I don't believe you know, but you barely have any interest in it, and I want to know what changed.

"Malleus, Silver," Lilia whispered. "Let's not argue here, let's just talk about this tomorrow."

"As if you know about love," scoffed Silver. "Your version of love is pushing people who obviously care about you away and leave them alone for years. Regardless of anything valurable."

"...It wasn't by choice," Malleus whispered. "I did what I had to do to protect you."

"Protect me from what? Your hearlessness?"

Malleus gasped and looked down.

"Malleus," Lilia sighed. "Are you alright?"

"The Party is over," Malleus announced. "Guards, make sure that guests are taken to their living locations safely and that the gates are closed and guarded."

"Don't you dare leave," Silver spoke, grabbing Malleus's hand, but grabbed his glove instead.

"Silver, I will only ask you once. Give me back my glove," Malleus ordered. "You don't want to see what happens if my gloves are off, I promise you it's not good."

"Malleus, then please listen to me," Silver said sorrowfully. I can't keep living like I'm invisible and being ignored by everyone else because I am not from the land. I..." Silver paused before looking back angrily. "What did I ever do to you!?"

"Silver, don't," Malleus gulped, trying to stand firm.

"Silver, please calm down," Lilia gulped.

"No, I can't ignore this," Silver agreed. "Why did you shut me out?! Why shut the world out?? WHAT ARE YOU SO AFRAID OF!?"

"Stop!" Malleus screamed, his hand now sprouting ice as spikes surrounded him.

Everyone froze and gasped, looking down at the magically formed ice. It took a mere moment before the ballroom started to fill with panic and gasped.

"...Malleus?" Silver gasped softly.

Malleus, eyes still looking at Silver, opened the door and rushed out, ice trails underneath his feet. He ignored the people calling out to him as he rushed out to the entrance to the Kingdom, but he was stopped as the villagers greeted him with happiness and praise. But this made him panic even more as Silver, Lilia, Louis, and Adam rushed into the door with guards behind them.

"Malleus! Please stay calm down," Lilia begged.

"I'm trying!" Malleus sobbed. "Make sure they stay away!"

As he raised his hands in defense, another burst of ice and another form of spikes emerged, one almost striking Silver's heart.

"I'm sorry," Malleus sobbed again, backed up, and his hand hit a fountain. Everyone watched as the water formed into icey sculptures. People gasped around him as fear appeared in their eyes, making Malleus feel even worse, and he started hyperventilating.

"Conceal, don't feel," Malleus repeated as he rushed away.

But a fjord stopped him, and he looked over to see his family rushing over to him. He was shaking, but he had no other choice but to step forward. Ice appeared underneath his foot, making him walk on the water.

".. Father! Please! Keep Silver safe! I can't keep this up..." Malleus sobbed, "...I hope Silver will be a great king...much more better than I am. I'm so sorry, Silver...I didn't mean to hurt you that day."

Malleus took a breath and started to run away, ice forming a path. He ignored everything as he disappeared into the forest, ignoring Silver's cries for him, even when he slipped onto the ice to come closer to his brother.

"Are you ok?"Louis spoke, helping Silver up. "Did you know about this?"

"..no," Silver whispered.

"I cannot believe this! I knew that women's offspring will bring us nothing but trouble!" Adam screamed at Lilia. "But no! You wanted to raise that beastly child as your own flesh and blood!"

"As if this would happen?!" Lilia groaned. "Malleus had no control, but he actually managed to. It is not my fault that his emotions took over just this one time in his life."

"I cannot believe you," Adam sighs. "I suppose your other son has magic to?"

"None," Lilia answered. "Silver, as far as I am concerned, is ordinary."

"I am," Silver spoke up and sighed. "I'm so sorry, Father. I caused all of this."

"I understand your feelings about these past few years," Lilia sighed. "It's a long story, but I also take part of this. I should never have gone by those trolls and tried harder as a parent, but unfortunately, that's all in the past. Right now, we need to get Malleus. Who knows what'll happen if he's alone for too long?"

"Your Majesty! The Fjord!" gasped a guard.

Lilia watched Malleus's ice trial travel throughout the fjord, which had become frozen over. Clouds above surrounded the kingdom, and snow slowly fell onto the ground, shocking everyone.

"Snow? In winter?"

"The King has cursed us all!" gasped a villager.

"No, he didn't!" Silver spoke back. "...Oh, what have I done. Father, please let me go after him."

"No way, I alreayd lost one son, I can't lose you too." Lilia argued.

"Please, Father," Silver begged. "I caused all of this, and now i want to fix it."

"..Ugh, I can't change your mind now, can I?" Lilia sighs. "I truly taught you the heart of a knight, huh?"

"You did," Silver smiles. "And I need to make this right. If this continues on, who knows how bad this newly formed winter will be."

"He has a point," spoke Louis, walking forward. "Please, let me help you as much as I can."

"Of course," Silver nodded. "Please stay and assist my Father. I can go up the mountain by myself, but my Father is now a little frail and may need some help with some more difficult tasks."

"I may be old, but I am not weak," huffed Lilia. "Nevermind that, please be safe."

Silver nods as a guard gives him his horse and a cloak for warmth.

"I will, and i will return with Mallues."

Loius sighed and grabbed Silver's hand. "But what if he hurts you? I can't bear the thought."

"He's my brother," Silver reassured. "He won't hurt me."

"I hope so," Loius prayed and kissed his hand. "Safe travels, dear Prince."

Silver smiled and rode away, heading for the mountains, where now a huge cloud loomed over.

[naraven]

hehehe my secret santa for this year was @perpetualcynicism !! im somewhat of a lurker on your blog so it was a fun surprise to know that you were my secret santa LOL

yeah maybe i should've done another character besides cyno, but im a sucker for genshin's resident yu gi oh player so i hope you enjoy :'D

ps. the snow jokes took way too long to make... like i literally had to look them up and it was painful...

wc / 1.6k

cw / fluff, snow, painfully unfunny snow puns

“What’s winter like in Sumeru, Cyno?”

The snow haired man blinks as you lean into him more. He lets his arm relax as you swing both your hands back and forth. You lean forward to properly see his face.

“It depends. The desert or the forest?”

He watches your face scrunch up into your thinking face, hand on your chin, “The desert?”

“Well, it gets even colder than usual. It still retains the dryness, and sometimes it even snows.”

“Wow, snow in the desert? That sounds pretty cool, actually!”

“If you’d like, we could go to Aaru village to see if it snows. Candace actually told me that there’s already a thin layer of frost on the ground.”

“Really? Then let’s get packing, I want to see the snow!”

Cyno breathes out a quiet laugh at your enthusiasm. He wasn’t planning on bringing you to his home village so soon, but celebrating Christmas with you there didn’t sound bad at all.

He helps you pack your clothes, forcing you to bring more than one jacket because no you will actually freeze to death, please bring thicker clothing- and with his own cloak, prepare to leave within the next couple days.

He opts to take the route that didn’t lead to Port Ormos, instead straight to Caravan Ribat. Along the way you spotted more and more snow as you approached the Wall of Samiel. Cyno watches as you step on the white ice and complain about how your feet are cold and wet.

“This is what you get for stepping on snow with just sandals on, [Y/N].”

“Cyno, I think my toes are gonna fall off…”

“Again, this is what you get. We’re almost there, let’s greet Candace first and we can warm up afterwards.”

Candace greets you warmly, a stark contrast to her misty breath as she talks. She leads the two of you to an empty guest house, complete with an empty fireplace filled with wood. Cyno tucks a blanket around your shoulders, effectively turning you into an armless bundle of warmth.

“Cyno, Cyno, look! It swooshes around like wings!”

Cyno looks on as you spin and sway to show how the blanket hugged your body. The light from the newly lit fireplace encompasses the living room area with comforting warmth.

“It does. Make sure you don’t get angry, that’ll really ruffle your feathers.”

“That was so bad.”

You try hitting him with your blanket wings, trying as best you could to wack his arm. Cyno grips your blanket.

“Did you get it? Birds ruffling their feathers means-”

“I know what it means, let go! It’s gonna fall off and I’m cold.”

Cyno pulls you down and you land on him with a muted “oof-” as he holds you close.

“Alright, are you warm enough to go see the snow for real now? You really wanted to see snow, it’s best to see it before it turns into ice.”

Your neck snaps up to beam him a smile that stretched from ear to ear. He pats your head before you can squirm.

“Yes, please! Let’s go, I’ll bundle up properly this time!”

He watches you inch yourself up, much like a worm, and go to your bedroom to grab thicker and longer clothes. He himself puts on his usual travelling cloak with some thicker shoes. He made sure to grab some proper shoes before you two left, knowing you probably didn’t have anything to protect your feet.

He fastens up your footwear for you and before he can even stand up you’re already out the door. You’re barely a foot out the door before your breathe fogs up and clouds your vision. You turn back to see Cyno stand up and close the door behind him, hood pulled up. You tug at his hand, feet tracking footprints into the frosty floor.

“Where’re we going first? I want to see how snow falls first, I’ve never seen it snowing!”

“Is that so? I’m not sure if it will snow, but we can go out further into the desert to see how much snow there is.”

He guides you to outside Aaru Village. Eremites were probably hiding inside their camps more and more but he’s cautious enough to bring his weapon. He looks around the large open field as you bounce around in the white backdrop.

And after he looks around for a second, he’s pelted on his arm by a cold ball hurdling at him. He hears your laugh as he shakes the snow off him. As you turn around to make another one, you feel a freezing sensation on your side as you shriek at the cold.

“Agh, chill out Cyno! Ahhh, I’m sorry, have mercy!”

You bundle up some more snow in your palms, ready to assault Cyno with another snowball. Before you stand up, your vision turns white. You wipe your face and your nose tingles with the urge to sneeze. You blink and line up your shot to Cyno.

He dodges your snowball and you curse under your breath. Curse him, that shot was right to your face! You can still feel the coolness on your cheek and eyes, finally sneezing after being pelted right in your nose.

The spontaneous snowball fight ends when you collapse onto the floor butt first, laying down on the cold ground. Your quick exhales turn cloudy and disappear as soon as they come.

Cyno’s footsteps crunch on the icy floor, getting louder and louder as he approaches. Turning your neck to look at him, you’re greeted with his towering figure and the lightness of the sky above.

“Are you ok? The cold is snow joke.”

You threw a handful of snow at him.

“I’m sorry beloved, I’ll give you something warm to drink.”

You sneeze into a tissue, sniffling. The snow got to you harder than you thought. Cyno’s hands felt colder than usual on your cheeks and forehead, eyebrows furrowed the tiniest bit.

“Do you need anything else? Do you want to go to bed?”

He bites the inside of his cheek when you shake your head with a light groan. He tucks the blanket tighter around you and figures out what to get you to drink.

Tea, coffee, maybe some warm milk? You would want something sweet, wouldn’t you? Shuffling around the kitchen, Cyno opens cabinet after cabinet to see if Candace had anything that would make you feel a bit better. That was when a packet of cocoa fell off a certain shelf. Inspecting it closer, Cyno decides to grab some sugar before warming up some milk.

You wake up groggily and congested to the sight of Cyno holding a mug. When you sit up, you adjust the blanket around your shoulders so you could extend your hands to Cyno.

“What’s this?”

He leans against your torso, hair ticking your side, “Some hot cocoa. Something warm and sweet when it’s snowing is something you would enjoy, isn’t it?”

You take a cautious sip, not wanting to burn your mouth. The sweetness of the drink slowly warms your body. Cyno smiles when you let out a content sigh and lean back into the couch. His arms wrap around you and you lay your hand on his forehead. “

Wait, Cyno, you’re pretty warm too! I can’t believe I made you do all that when you were also sick…”

He puts his own hand to his head, feeling the unusually warm heat being emanated from his own self. He didn’t even realize he had a fever either, it seems.

“It’s fine, I wasn’t aware I was sick either.”

“But still! Later I’ll make you something nice to make sure you don’t get even more sick."

Before you can say anything else, Cyno shoves his face into your stomach and blows. You cough out a laugh, or choke and nearly gag.

“Agh-hahaha, Cyno, no, what the heck, don’t-hmp-”

Cyno grins to himself when he sees you smile crookedly, trying to hold back your laugh.

Eventually you manage to push Cyno enough to let you see his face. The red in his eyes stare at you with a mischief you were rather unfamiliar with and you pout.

“Ugh, I thought your jokes were bad enough, can’t believe I have to deal with tickles now.”

“It’s only with you, beloved.”

Cyno takes great pride at the redness in your face, which he knows isn’t from the fever. He lets out a slight laugh when you hit his arm weakly.

The fire crackled when you flop down to lay down. Cyno climbs to lay his head on your torso once more. His cheek smushes into your chest and it feels as if you two are ready to take a nap.

Which is exactly what you do. From finishing the last of your journey to Aaru Village and the funnest time in the snow, your body feels ready to rest for real. As you drift off to sleep, Cyno cranes his neck to look up.

He wants nothing more than to get up and move you to a bigger and more comfortable bed, but the way the fire flickers orange light over your tired face stops him. If he disturbed you now it would be a waste of a nice moment.

So he opts to rest too. You can complain about all the neck and back pains in the morning, but right now he stares at your slowly breathing self for a few moments longer and closes his own eyes, thankful to the Archons that he could spend the winter with you.

[berglietz]

It's not the fiery serpent that stands beside Rafal, but the little rabbit again, Caspar is pretty sure—both pale figures quickly blur in the onslaught of sleet and snow that surrounds him.

Caspar takes 14 damage and Srizzly takes 12 damage.

"Srizzly!" He calls out, eyes screwed shut against the frigid wind, "Fight back!" The bear bellows, claws swiping aimlessly through the frost in its panic. Flames lick at the air and dissipate before they can fully form.

Srizzly uses Fire Spin on Moonap, but Misses!

When the snow clears, the creature's massive paws are on its face, covering its eyes. Caspar rubs at the back of his neck as he takes in the sight of such a large creature looking so fearful…no, embarrassed, maybe? "Alright," He sighs, "Take a quick breather, okay? Once you're more relaxed, you'll be ready to knock 'em down."

Caspar moves 5 to D5 and switches out Srizzly for Waveece

The bird he calls forth in the bear's place is all blue hues and smooth feathers, descending to the field with a haughty sort of air. "Hey there!" Caspar greets the fiend with a wave. "Let's see what you can do, buddy!" The Waveece tilts its head back, opens its beak, and lets out a raucous sound that puts even Caspar's voice to shame. Wow.

Waveece switches in at E7 uses Chatter on Moonap

@rafent !

Alola! (Hits You On The Head With An Axe) | South Island Circuit 1 Battle 2

[charlietheepicwriter7]

High Priest, Pt. 2

From “The Many Akumatizations of Luka Couffaine.” 

The class was, for the most part, silent.

No one knew what to feel after yesterday, Juleka included. It was… Everything was fine, they were all hanging out, and then Lila mentioned that Marinette got out of trouble for bullying her, which was horrible, and… and…

Juleka didn’t know who pushed Marinette. She just knew that someone did. No one goes from backing away from a hoard of angry teenagers to crumpled at the bottom of concrete stairs by the Seine by yourself. And then Lila had said, 

“Wow, I can’t believe she’s faking being hurt. She has a lot of nerve after pushing me down the stairs. I didn’t make such a big deal out of it.”

And they all just left her.

But Marinette wasn’t faking. She’d seen it in Luka’s face when her parents had called him, saying that Marinette was in the hospital and that he needed to come, as her boyfriend (her boyfriend, Luka was her boyfriend, when Lila had told them Marinette had bullied her because of Marinette’s jealousy over how close she and Adrien were-). And now… 

And now…

The class was silent. 

Who was the guilty one, Juleka wondered. Not Lila, she had stood at the back of the group while they accosted Marinette. Not Adrien, who hadn’t gotten involved and hadn’t defended Marinette, a true neutral that wasn’t neutral at all. Not Chloe, who wasn’t even there and chatted away with Sabrina without a care in the world, unknowing or uncaring about their hospitalized friend. But Alya, but Nino, but Kim, but anyone… 

There was a murderer among them. 

A sharp trill of their phones went off, all of them at once. The akuma alert. Alya, who already had her phone out, was the first to shout. “There’s an akuma at Arc Hospital!”

Juleka paled. (“I’m going to Arc Hospital! Tell mom not to wait for me!”)

“Apparently it can transform the environment,” Alya gushed, like her best friend wasn’t in danger. No one noticed Adrien leaving with a rushed excuse about the bathroom - they were all used to his weak bladder by now. “That’s so cool! I’ve never seen an akuma do that before!”

“There might be a sentimonster along with it,” Nino pointed out. “Maybe on the hospital itself, and that’s why it transformed.”

“Oh, that makes more sense!” Alya replied, already packing up her bag. “I’m going to head to the sight; someone has to document the akuma!”

“I’ll go with you,” Nino said. 

The two were heading out the door, nothing too different, when Lila spoke up, shakily raising her hand. “C-Can I come too?” she asked. “It’s just… I’ve been so worried about Ladybug lately; akuma’s have been getting a lot stronger, so I just thought that I could be there for her, cheer her on?”

Alya looked nervous. “Well, actually-”

“That’s a great idea!” Rose gushed, like they didn’t have a friend in that specific hospital. “I’m sure Ladybug will defeat the akuma with her best friend by her side!”

“Yeah!”

“Hey, we should go too!”

“Ladybug will certainly feel empowered if an entire class cheers her on!”

“Sure. She’ll probably end up needing Queen Bee, if the akuma is that powerful.”

We shouldn’t do that, Juleka tried to say, only for the words to get stuck in her throat. Did they see that they were putting themselves in danger, potential hostages for the akuma? But no, they were blind. Lila led them like lemmings, encouraging them, saying “Yes, of course Ladybug would love that, we should all go!”

That’s how, despite her instincts, Juleka was forced into going to ground zero. At least she wasn’t the only one disliking the situation. Both Alya and Nino looked put out for some reason, and Chloe was just unhappy in general. 

The hospital had been transformed into a temple. “Aztec,” Rose whispered as they all stared up at the pyramid. “It looks… like those pictures from that research project Luka was doing.” Juleka nodded and suddenly had a horrible feeling about who exactly the akuma was. The stone looked rough, the mica a sandy-grey. Pictographs were carved into the stone, unlike any Juleka had ever seen, with each image growing more and more graphic in violence as the class climbed the pyramid together. They all… looked like people, she noticed.

The truly concerning factor, however, was the group of people that gathered at the bottom of the pyramid as the class trekked upward. But no one else set foot on the temple. They were utterly alone. 

There was only one entrance into the temple, a wide, gaping mouth of a door. Fire flickered inside the opening. Alya gave a shaky smile as she readied her camera. “Well, I guess we’re expected, right guys?” Her attempt at a joke fell flat as the class inched into the temple. 

The inside was covered in carvings, intricate and beautiful, painted and bright. Most of them depicted a beautiful dark-haired woman with a crescent moon on her forehead being worshiped. Was she the akuma? Some woman with a god-complex that turned the hospital into… this? Torches lined the walls, throwing dark shadows across the paintings. “They look like they’re moving,” Nathaniel whispered, enthralled as the class spread out, everyone looking around the interior. 

Alix frowned. “It doesn’t look very Aztec to me.”

At the center of the room was a glass altar. Or, more accurately, as Juleka approached it, a glass coffin. The frosted glass concealed the content’s identity at a distance, but up close, Juleka realized it was… “Marinette?”

That got everyone’s attention. Shocked gasps and exclamations filled the room. Alya pushed her way to the front. “What? No, it can’t be…”

Nino looked at the coffin nervously. “She can’t be akumatized, can she?”

“Of course not!” Alya spat back, coming to the defense of her comatose best friend. “She’s too strong to-”

Lila clung to Alya, cutting her off. “She was probably so upset that I revealed she was bullying me!” She wailed, the sound grating in the echoing expanse of the hall. “Oh, it’s all my fault that Marinette finally got akumatized!” For a moment, Juleka thought Lila sounded… vindicated? What?

“Cease your lies, Defiler of this hallowed place. -A strong, male, familiar voice boomed out, seemingly from nowhere-“Lest your accursed tongue wound the ears of our slumbering Goddess.”

From the shadows immerged a blue figure, dressed like a stereotypical Aztec priest. His skin, mostly his bare chest and face, was covered in black tattoos, like the line of triangles under his left eye and over his right. He wore a large, jeweled necklace that sparkled in the fire light, and feathers, dark blue and pink, trailed out of his short hair and down his back, past the linen skirt he wore to cover his modesty. 

It was obvious at first glance that the akuma was Luka. 

What was also obvious was the large, ceremonial knife in his hand. 

“Rejoice, heretics, non-believers, and renouncers of the faith,” the akuma said, looking down on their class with cold rage. “The day has come at last to join our Goddess in everlasting peace at her side. For I, the High Priest, have been given the sacred duty of awakening the Goddess of the Moon, the Melody of all Hearts, the Ever-Resting Queen… and it is with your blood that she will live again.”

Rose trembled at Juleka’s side. “Our… blood?” she whispered.

“Correct.” He could hear them, oh no, oh no… “Either through service or sacrifice, it matters little to me. Though my Goddess may wish for you to bleed through service, I care not so long as the blood is taken.”

“You…” Alya growled, then snapped, pointing at the High Priest. “Ladybug and Chat Noir will defeat you and save Marinette, you fiend. And if you think any of us are joining you, you’ve got another thing coming!”

“So, you have chosen death.” The room grew darker, the torches dimming. The High Priest’s eyes glowed neon blue. “Then may my Goddess have mercy on your fleeting soul…

“For I will have none.”

Taglist: @larasilvestris   @vixen-uchiha    

[shoutaaizawas]

↳ keigo takami x fem!reader → ❝shiny things❞

summary: hawks has more bird-like tendencies than you initially thought. he likes to present you with odd items as gifts and finally you figure out why word count: 2,406 tags/warnings: fluff, hawks being a bird a/n: uhh i don’t know i love the bird man

sequel “preening”

masterlist

Dating Hawks was unusual for a list of reasons. He was a pro hero so that meant he was very busy, in the public eye, and couldn’t tell you everything. Then there was the way Hawks had been raised. After a while of dating, he trusted you enough to open up and tell you about his childhood. It shed a lot of light on the things he did in your relationship. But perhaps the least expected thing was his bird-like habits.

It wasn’t unusual for people with animal-like quirks the show similar traits to said animal. Selkie and Gang Orca came to mind although they looked more like their animal counterparts than Hawks did. Perhaps that was why you didn’t expect it from him.

At first, you thought he was joking. You had been dating for a while enough to know each other well enough to start to develop feelings. Hawks flew in to meet you for a coffee date in between work. The wind-blown hair and charming smile always made your heart skip a beat.

“Look what I found.” He said, his tone of voice sounded like an excited kid. He held out his hand present the shiny blue marble. You glanced up at him wondering if he was joking but he looked happy to present this offering. The last thing you wanted to do was hurt his feelings even if you didn’t quite understand.

“Wow, where’d you find this?” You asked taking it and holding it up in the light to examine it.

“I found it on patrol.” He said. “It was shining in the light and caught my eye. Don’t worry I washed it off.” He reassured. That almost made you laugh.

“It’s pretty.” You said. That wasn’t a lie, in its own way it was pretty but you could honestly say you had never met someone over the age of ten present a marble with such excitement.

“It’s for you.” He said with a smile that melted your heart. The sentiment wasn’t lost on you even if you were trying to wrap your head around it.

“Thank you, you’re too sweet.” You told him before pressing a kiss to his cheek.

The next time that happened you were more prepared for it. It was a perfect day, the sky was clear, and the weather cool. The salty breeze from the ocean filled the air around you as you walked hand in hand with your boyfriend. The sun was sinking into the horizon leaving a beautiful sunset.

Hawks spotted something, his eyes widening as he let go of your hand and rushed forward. He leaned down picking up something from the ground. Brushing it off he stood and returned to your side.

“Look!” He said in an excited voice holding his open hand up to you. You smiled at the way his wings fluttered in excitement behind him.

“What is it?” You asked putting one hand underneath his as you looked. There was a small shiny green object, it almost looked like a rock.

“It’s a piece of sea glass! It’s normal glass that ends up in the ocean, it takes like fifty years of tumbling around in the water to look like this.” He said. Looking at it, it was pretty. The frosted texture was unique you realized as you picked it up. He closed your hand over it. “Keep it.” He smiled.

You smiled at him sliding the sea glass in your pocket for safekeeping. This wasn’t the last time that he gave you an odd gift with a genuine spirit. You always smiled when he presented the items with pride and excitement, his feathers puffed up.

It was a night that you were spending with Hawks at his fancy apartment when things started to make more sense. You had made him dinner and were enjoying a bottle of wine now.

Hawks wasn’t a drinker but since you met him you had gotten him to like wine. It wasn’t unusual for you to share a bottle. It always amused you the pink tint on his cheeks and how relaxed he got.

The view from Hawks balcony was nice, a perfect city skyline. The love seat there was comfy and so was your position resting against Hawks, one of his winds draped around you keeping you close and protecting you from the cold night. The candles lit around you gave off a dim glow.

You looked at your empty glass and his. As much as you didn’t want to get up you did want more wine so you would have to sacrifice your comfort for a moment.

“Let me get you more.” You said taking his glass in your hand before standing up. He made a noise of complaint at the loss of contact.

“I can get it.” He said. You leaned forward pressing a kiss against his lips, your free hand grazing his cheek.

“Let me, relax here. I’ll be right back.” You said before walking into the apartment. You entered his nice kitchen grabbing the bottle on the counter. There was enough for one glass. You looked at the full bottle on the counter. It wouldn’t hurt to open up another, you could always save the rest if you didn’t finish it.

Opening a drawer you looked for the wine opener. This one had normal utensils in it. The one below it had towels. It was the third drawer down that was odd.

It was full of random items, rocks, stray earrings, buttons, and other odds and ends. It wasn’t your usual junk drawer. All of the items had a certain shine to them. Your mind was immediately pulled to the random things Hawks had presented to you so happily.

You let out a small gasp as it all clicked. He was a bird. Well, not literally but it seemed he shared more traits with the animal than you had originally guessed. Looking at all the items you knew that he cared for them enough to keep them in his house.

A smile met your lips thinking about how excited he always was as he handed you the shiny thing he had found. It was so sweet that he gave them to you instead of keeping it for his own collection. Had he even been keeping anything for himself since he met you?

Your heart felt full as you closed the drawer and looked for the wine opener. Hawks was already so sweet and somehow this odd quirk of his added on to it.

Returning to the balcony you sat down next to him handing him his glass before pulling him in for a deep kiss. Your free hand tangled in his feathers and you could feel him sigh against your lips.

“What was that for?” He questioned pulling back with pink cheeks and a content smirk.

“Nothing, I just really like you.” You smiled.

“Well, I really like you too.” He said before pulling you in for another kiss.

“So I gave her this shiny rock and she was so happy, I love the way she smiles when I give her stuff.” Hawks gushed about you to Mirko often. The rabbit hero was patient in listening to him but would often roll her eyes at how head over heels he was.

“Wait, so you’re telling me the kind of gifts you’ve been giving her are shiny rocks and marbles?” She questioned. “Please don’t tell me you’ve stolen french fries from tourists to give to her.” Hawks gave her a questioning look.

“I always give her the shiny stuff I find now.” He said.

“And she hasn’t dumped you?” She questioned with a raised eyebrow. “Wow, she must really like like you.”

“What do you mean?”

“A lot of girls like shiny things but they usually prefer bracelets, necklaces, rings, or even cars if you’re really trying to spoiler her. Maybe a designer pair of shoes or a purse.” She said thoughtfully. “Most girls would have left by now if they were given shiny debris from their boyfriend.”

Hawks stood there frozen trying to process what she was saying.

“Trust me, I get it, Hawks. The animal tendencies can be strong but you have to recognize them and adjust. Find a way to fill that urge but in a way that your partner will appreciate more.”

“I didn’t even realize it.” Hawks said in a quiet voice. “Oh no she’s probably hated all the stuff I’ve been giving her and has just been nice to me.” He groaned.

Mirko patted him on the shoulder.

“Happens to the best of us. I nibbled on my first crushes sleeve. There are some things you’ll never forget how embarrassing they were.” She sighed, staring off in her memory.

“That’s rough.” Hawks said. “I’m just glad you told me before she got too weirded out. I really like her, I don’t want to ruin it with her.”

“That’s what friends are for to help you with your blind spots.” She explained. “And Hawks, if she stuck around this long I don’t think you’re scaring her off with shiny marbles.” She teased.

Hawks felt so embarrassed. He had no relationship experience. His childhood had not been a normal one, he didn’t go to middle school or high school. He didn’t go on awkward dates or take someone to prom. It was uncharted territory. He never even intended on dating anyone his life was too complicated then he met you and every excuse he had to date someone was out the window.

He had to make it up to you, he had to explain himself but he was trying to figure out the best way to do that. He recalled you telling him a story about earrings that you had really wanted to buy once at a boutique on vacation but you had ended up not buying them for one reason or another. He had made note of that hoping to look for one similar to what you described but hadn’t gotten around to it.

Now was finally his time, surprisingly it wasn’t that hard to find something that matched your description. He hoped it was close enough for you. Hawks texted you asking if he could come over tonight when you were home and you agreed.

After patrol, he picked up your favorite take out and headed over to your place. He landed on the balcony walking in as you told him he could. You sat on the couch wearing a cute pair of sweatpants and a sweater.

“Hey, babe.” You said standing up and walking over to him, greeting him with a kiss.

“Hey, little bird.” He said returning the kiss.

“Is that what I think it is?” You questioned.

“Your favorite.” He smiled. The two of you sat down at the couch opening up the bag of food and digging in.

“What’s the special occasion?” You asked as you finished up your food.

“I wanted to talk.” He answered, immediately he saw you face drop. “Nothing bad, I promise.”

“Oh.” You sighed in relief.

“Actually I wanted to apologize.” He started, his wings looked tense.

“For what?” You asked with a raised eyebrow.

“The gifts I’ve given you, my friend pointed out that they’re weird and not something you should give your girlfriend.

“Hawks-” You tried to interrupt but he continued.

“I’m sorry, it’s just something I’ve done since I was a kid. I see something shiny and I take it, I’ve had a collection forever and I don’t know I never questioned it until Mirko pointed it out. I just would always get so excited when I saw stuff I kept it. When I started dating you I’d see something and I would think this is so pretty I have to share it with her, I don’t want to keep it to myself-”

“Hawks.” You said taking his hand in yours. “Don’t apologize. Look.”

He watched as you leaned to your coffee table grabbing the small box on it and setting it in between the two of you. Opening it he realized it was full of all the things he had given you.

“I’ll admit I was a little confused at first but even then I saw how happy you were and it was so cute. How could I deny or be upset about you giving me something that made you so happy.” You explained, brushing your hand over the piece of sea glass he gave you. “Eventually I figured it out, I saw the drawer at your place and I put it together. Honestly, the fact that you gave me these means far more than expensive jewelry would mean to me.”

Hawks stared at you in disbelief. How had he ever found someone as amazing as you? He fought the tears that threatened to well up in his eyes. You had understood him without him ever having to explain.

“Actually, I just remembered.” You said standing up and moving to your purse by the door. You looked through it for a moment before finding what you were looking for. Sitting down you held your hand out presenting a shiny vintage key. “I saw this today at a little store I stopped at on my break. I don’t know if it will fit into your collection but-”

Before you could even finish your sentence Hawks had nearly tackled you into a kiss. His arms wrapped around you pulling you close as his wings fluttered. He pulled back looking into your eyes.

“I love you.” The words came out before he could stop them. He already felt so much for you but this had pushed it over the edge.

“Keigo, I-I love you too.” You returned not expecting anything that had just happened.

“I got you a gift, a proper gift this time.” He said reaching into his pocket. “The earrings you talked about, I hope they are close enough to the ones you wanted.”

“Keigo, they’re perfect.” You said pulling him in for another kiss. “Thank you.”

Hawks was more than just a pretty face and you had seen through that. Getting to know him, the real him, not the person the media presented or the child that had been raised into a weapon, was something you had enjoyed. Not only did you get to know the real Hawks but you had fallen deeply in love with him, bird traits, and all.

taglist:  @sugarmaplewings-fics @lilkiwisfinest @ewwis @kandy1410 @moonlightaangel @winnies-headcannons @bakugousidehoe @paintedr0ses1 @toobsessedsstuff @spellboundxizi @ourladyofseijoh  @x0doodlebug0x @katsushimaa @mooncademia

[loveacrossteyvat]

Birthdays through the years (Diluc x reader)

.........*years ago*.........

You stood in front of the large doors of the Dawn Winery, your hands fiddling with the wrapped box with both nervousness and excitement. You really hope that your best friend Diluc would like the gift. You jumped a little when the door opened, revealing Crepus who saw you and gave a warm smile.

“Ah, you arrived. Diluc has been anxiously waiting for you, (y/n).” Crepus said, opening the door for you. As you walked in, Crepus called out for his son, who immediately ran out from a room. Large red eyes widened with excitement and ran into you to hug you tightly, squishing your cheeks together.

“(y/n)! I’m so happy you came!” He cried out with a big smile. You laughed as well, pulling back a little and petting his fluffy red hair. The two of you left Crepus to head into the dining room where his adopted brother, Kaeya was waiting in and gave you a small wave. Despite being the son of a famous man in Mondstadt, Diluc preferred having small birthdays with his family and best friend. You came from a humble family who worked with Crepus for a time. During that time, you often visited the Dawn Winery with your parents where you met the brothers and became close friends with them. You and Diluc became especially close to which you two never seemed to separate.

“(y/n) look at this. Kaeya and father made me this for my birthday.” Diluc said as the both of you sat down and he pointed to a white cake with red frosting, two slices cut out for the brothers.

“Wow, that looks delicious.” You complimented, causing the blue hair boy to blush shyly. A maid proceeded to cut you a slice so you decided to pass Diluc your present. “Here Diluc. I hope you like it.” Diluc thanked you and took the present, opening it rather quickly. Kaeya peeked over a little as Diluc pulled out a red gem attached through a gold rope. “My mom taught me how to make it. It’s supposed to go around your collar, like a necklace.” You explained, feeling a little nervous as Diluc stared at the present.

“This is really pretty. Thank you, (y/n).” Diluc thanked with a bright smile, immediately relieving you of all the anxiousness you’ve been feeling. 

.........*a few years later*.........

Time passed and much has changed in your life. You started taking a liking to making trinkets and jewellery. You have made a number, including a blue earring for your friend Kaeya, and women started to take notice of them and wanted some for themselves. Thus you became quite well-known in Mondstadt and noticeably grew more independent from the nervous child you were before.

As you busied with your hobby-turned-job, Diluc and Kaeya grew to be strong young men who joined the Knights of Favonius. You knew it was a dream of Diluc considering the number of times you played knights with the two of them. And you were happy to see him rise up well, gaining much respect and admiration among the other knights. Kaeya seemed to have just tagged along with his brother but he too made a name for himself as a man with wits and skills.

Despite not being able to spend as much time together as when you were kids, you and Diluc still had a strong relationship. When you were both free, you would meet on a quiet grassy hill to talk about your lives. Diluc would share about his training with the knights and the people who he has met, including the successor of the Gunnhildr Clan Jean. You shared about the new materials from different regions which you tested making trinkets with, sharing how you would love to travel to those places yourself one day. No matter how tired Diluc was from training, he always seemed to make time for you. You were after all a dear friend of his and he liked the idea of having you involved in his life.

Every time you two talked, you always noticed the red gem hanging around Diluc’s neck. A present from you which he has held dear to all those years. It was just one of the quiet actions which the boy has done to show how much he appreciated your company. Other than that, many have noticed how much happier Diluc seemed when he was with you. Crepus liked to joke about how he felt relieved of leaving the Dawn Winery one day to the both of you, to which made the both of you shy about the thought.

Though, Diluc never once denied it.

Speaking of the Dawn Winery, you were right now decorating the living room for Diluc and Crepus’ arrival. It was Diluc’s coming of age ceremony and you wanted to give him a surprise when he returns home. So you came early and worked with the staff to get everything ready. You headed to the couch where you rummaged through your bag and pulled out a small package. It was a handmade lanyard which you hoped would be useful for Diluc with his new rank as captain. You were thrilled when Diluc shared the news and you immediately went to work on this as your way to say congratulations.

You smiled to yourself and placed the present on the table, waiting with the rest of the staff for the masters of the house. But all of you would have never guessed the horrible incident which would change everything which seemed normal.

.........*current year*.........

It was late at night in the Angel Share and the red hair bartender was cleaning the last of the glasses for the day. He had gotten a good amount of information for his personal mission and was ready to head back home to prepare for his quest. He heard the door opened and was about to remark about the tavern being closed when he saw who was standing by the door and his eyes widened slightly.

“Diluc. I’m glad to catch you before you left.” You said as you pulled down your hood and walked over to the bar seat.

“You know the bar is open during the day, right?” Diluc remarked, placing the glass on the tabletop.

“There’s too many people during that time. This is the only time I can talk to you without anyone bothering us.” You said. Diluc hummed in response and went to the bottle shelf. Meanwhile you quietly observed him, smiling softly. It had been three years since the unfortunate incident and it changed your lives.

Obviously Diluc became more distant and somewhat cold, an irony of his Pyro vision. The death of his father and his leave from the Knights of Favonius made you see him less, sometimes not at all. You tried to reach out to him but something told you to keep your distance for the time being, only showing your silent support on the sides.

It was only when Diluc needed help with a commission and he knew that you usually travelled across lands for your job. He trusted you and let you in on private affairs of his, including his persona as the Darknight Hero. You jumped at the chance to help him in any way you could, which included gathering intel from people of different cities and bringing new materials back to the Dawn Winery.

Because of that, the two of you begun to spend more time together. Your more optimistic nature and light talk of what you’ve seen in your travels slowly broke the walls of Diluc’s heart and the man started to become himself around you. You counted the times he managed a small smile in front of you, being happy with yourself every time he did. 

“How was your trip to Liyue?” Diluc asked as he passed you a glass of your favourite drink.

“It was great. Working with the jewellers there was inspirational. Plus the experience of their culture was a nice refresher.” You answered and took a sip of your drink. “Also, I got some good information about the Abyss.”

“Sounds good. We’ll talk about more about it back in the Winery.” Diluc nodded and said. You both shared a silent moment with short chats for a while before you remembered something.

“I almost forgot. I got you something.” You went through your bag before pulling out a parcel. “It’s a speciality tea from Liyue. I know you don’t like alcohol so I thought you might like to try this.” Diluc took the parcel and a nice natural aroma wafted into his nose.

“It smells good. I’ll have someone make tea for us when we return.” You nodded and hopped over the counter to wash your empty glass. As you were, you jumped a little when strong arms wrapped around your waist and a warm breath hit the crook of your neck. You couldn’t help but smile, knowing how touchy Diluc actually is when in private. And judging by his action, it would seem that someone missed you.

“You know, I only managed to come back this quickly because it’s your birthday tomorrow. I know you don’t see the need to celebrate it but do you think you want to do something special? Just the two of us.” A small smile formed on Diluc’s face and he lifted his head to place a feather-like kiss on your forehead.

“I would really enjoy that.”

[sugar-petals]

hey angel (m)

♡  sub!felix + reader 

↳ The JYP Halloween party is ditched on short notice. That means: You have a down-to-celebrate boyfriend in full angel costume on your hands.

words. 5k 

tags. domestic au, finger sucking, hickeys, latex, corruption kink, fingering, vaginal sex, footjob, harnesses, cunnilingus, kitten antics, edging, aftercare 

★⎡CARO’S NOTE⎦› here goes the cutie on duty 👼

genre. domestic + smut/crack

„So sorry mate,“ Bang Chan’s voice resounds through the speaker. „I thought it could work but… We can’t celebrate tonight. Really sorry, Felix. Changbin and I already got dressed up too, but, you know things got shut down. JYP won’t let us with the Corona rules and stuff.“

„Oh no…“

„Yeah, man. Looks like we’ll have to do it next year.“

„You even prepared the food already, right?“

„We’re handing it out to staff and eat it at home. I know, it sucks. I spent half the morning in the kitchen. I can like keep the pumpkin cookies so you can eat them tomorrow after practice or so.“

„I feel so sorry Chan… and thank you.“

„I’ll be calling Hyunjin and Han now as well. Really sorry we’re cancelling short notice. I hope you’re still having a nice evening bro. Maybe we can make it happen for Christmas.“

„Okay. Cheers mate.“

„Yeah, cheers.“

Felix puts his phone down looking more than deflated in his angel costume, puffs out a big sigh. You can tell he really looked forward to this. Just an hour before, you bothered to sew the wings in place rather than rely on the wobbly back-pack like construction that came with it. 

They’re firmly attached to his white top now, and all for nothing. He glued them together by himself with a pack of synthetic feathers ordered on Etsy for a ridiculous shipping cost, along with a little halo that he clipped into his hair. Which, because maybe it really does sense his mood, dangles low and even a bit lopsided over his head.

„It’s the party of the year,“ Felix flops down on the living room couch. “I can’t believe this.“

You sit down opposite to him, starting to clean off the table where masses of cosmetic products and leftover feathers have piles up.

„Next time, Lixie. We can keep the costume. Poor Chan, he organized the living shit out of everything.“

„I’ll just go and shower, get this off, and stuff,“ he points at his face. Felix applied his own makeup with a little help from you here and there, including some golden sparkles. Just yesterday, he bleached his hair. It’s sculpted down to every strand with hair spray now. Felix unties his sneakers with the little gold stars on. Just before he starts plucking off his halo, you get an idea, pick up your phone from the table.

„Wait— Let’s at least make some pictures with your phone, you put so much effort in this. You look so cute. The fans might want to see it as well.“

„Oh! You’re right,“ Felix stops right in his tracks. „For Instagram.“

After tightening his sneakers again and you making sure the halo sights right, Felix walks around your flat in search for a nice backdrop. You follow, quickly flipping through some filters to try, and adjusting the flash on the camera.

After posing at the fridge — strange idea — and in the bathroom turns out a little awkward as well, you decide that such an elaborate costume needs a themed background, and only the bedroom offers just that. You recently changed the duvet to sky blue sheets with clouds on them. The overall interior is mostly clean white as well, with some thrifted vintage furniture. Fairy lights, heavy curtains, a wooden ceiling. Perfect.

„We’ll caption it as… post your own stay-at-home costume, something like that,“ Felix plops down on the bed, acting as if he just took a seat on the cloud in the very middle.

„Sounds pretty good,“ you press release, and the first picture pops up on your screen. „Can you turn a little towards the light? That the sparkles are showing.“

„Yay, I love the sparkles!“

„Just like this, just like this. Don’t move. The sparkles!“

A five-picture series of more snapshots ensues, with you adjusting Felix’s face a few times by hand, even, turning his chin by sheer millimeters to find the perfect angle. He’s stunning.

„I have another idea.“

„Oh?“

„I remember what I wore for Halloween three years ago. The costume must be somewhere. I think it fits together with yours.“

„What, oh wow?“

„What was it again, wait…“

You already begin to sort through your wardrobe, checking each hanger, each drawer, end up where you store your socks, and finally pull out a larger plastic zip bag from the very depths of all that chaos. There it is. Nice.

„Lix, if you’d turn around for me, please.“

He immediately does. Blushing.

„Thank you, angel.“

You pull off your sweat pants, your grey shirt, socks, your bra. Time to dress up. Only your simple black panties stay on. On goes a pair of scarlet stockings, snug and high. Then, a dark red latex skirt that goes in big circles and flounces, down to the mid-thigh. 

Added: A tight sleeveless peplum top that admittedly… and deliberately squeezes your boobs a little. Not too much. More important is that your nipples are showing right through, and the cleavage is sweeping, every demon would be salivating at your feet. If an angel does: Remains to be tested.

Around your waist and chest and over your shoulder goes a black harness, pulling everything together. Some very pointed, glossy pumps with thin heels complete the costume. They’re not crafted to be walked on in the very least, their balance is terrible. You’re planning something else with them. Cherry on top: Devil horn headband. Really curved and pointy, too. Can’t go wrong. You click your tongue and take a spin. The skirt flares out perfectly. Ready to go.

„Felix, time to turn around.“

He does. You can tell he didn’t cheat.

„You’re, you’re so hot in this,“ Felix buries his face right in the comfort of his sweater paws, hoping they would not give away his embarrassed little face. But — his voice does, effortlessly so.

„Come on, have a look at me. Real closely, angel, come. You’re allowed to.“

Felix gazes through his fingers with what sounds like a little meep! in a much more high-pitched tone than his usual speaking range. He’s cute.

„Hey pum’kin. Miss Lucifer speaking. Where’s the barbecue?“

Felix and you recently agreed that hell must be one big and extremely hot cave where everyone’s grilling and having a good time. Australia, essentially.

„Welp!“

„Damn right. Infiltrating God’s realm one cloud at a time. Any last words?“

„It’s so intimidating!“

Felix digs himself into a mountain of pillows on the bed, with only his eyes and nose peeking out. You shrug, adjust your horns.

„Hm. Time for my first satanic act I guess.“

„Oh no!“

„Wait just one minute, be a sweet and patient boy.“

You leave Yongbok confused given that you’re quick to hurry to the kitchen. However, what you return with puts a giggle on his lips right away.

„Boom. It is served.“

„Yes, yes, please!“

Poufy black cocoa cupcakes. The ones with the cute little ghost frosting on it, and the melted chocolate inside. Felix finds them irresistable since the last Halloween party, to the point where you bake them mid-July. The current set of cupcakes was meant to be a contribution to Bang Chan’s eerie and delectable buffet. As for now, they’re in deep need of someone hungry since you made a lot of them, assuming a post-workout Changbin would devour at least five or more.

„Good move,“ he admits, a little shaky, and you proceed to tray the cupcakes on the bed — stuffing Felix for a solid ten minutes until there’s chocolate all over his face. What you’ll be quick to confess is that you’ve been deliberately messy feeding him, with all the crumbs in particular.

„Spoiled honey bun,“ you plant a kiss on top of his head.

„These taste so good, I swear.“

Next up is Felix who has to carefully maneuver the sweet treats into your mouth without spoiling your outfit.

„If you get crumbs into my cleavage, I can’t put your face in there later you know.“

Fierce nodding.

„That’s the spirit.“

Under your eagle eyes, he proves to be an obedient little cherub doing his job pretty well. The cakes are delicious in how spongy they are, and the liquid chocolate warms up so well on the tongue, it melts even more. You’re more than pleased and have Felix store away the remaining four pieces only after quite a while.

„I’ll have them for Brekkie, woo!“ is what he’s fast to proclaim, and you agree he’ll need them the next morning. Once you’re done with him, that’s gonna count as a hangover even Chan’s wildest party couldn’t give him.

„We’re talking dinner first, Felix.“

At this point, all the sugar is kicking in. Or it’s the chocolate being some kind of aphrodisiac. Whatever, could be either, you’re feeling like you’re up there at the ceiling, and you’re not the only one. Felix coming back to the bedroom so bouncy and cutieful just gets you even more in the mood.

You sit at the edge of the bed, slanting backward just a little. „You look like you need some more corruption, I won’t lie,“ you pat your lap, beckoning. He can ditch wifi because this is his favorite hot spot waiting for him. Felix sits down looking tiny as ever, eyes full of anticipation and his pants full of… big fat late night erection.

„I don’t mind at all, Miss. I don’t, oh my god…“ he mumbles into his nonexistent Aussie trucker beard, and you’re clear that whatever the skirt did to him, his brain must be doing kangaroo somersaults right now. In the meantime, something very eager is poking right at your lower belly. Captain Boomerang already came fully armed tonight and the Suicide Squad isn’t even anywhere near to be seen.

„Oh hey hey, cupcake. Getting really big there,“ you wipe at the curled little corners of his mouth. Some crumbs come off. His lips already twitch the way you know they want to do naughty things on you. He doesn’t seem to notice. Autopilot Felix has already taken over.

„Don’t hurry with it,“ he stares, mouth half-open, but his little grinds prove him a dirty — in an entirely direct sense — fucking liar. Like he’s literally rubbing himself against your stomach.

„Boy oh boy. You’re not even trying.“

„I’m fucked!“ is what Felix soon realizes with the daggers you’re shooting at him through your hopefully very satanic-looking eyes right now. Alongside catching up with his darn hips doing their own thing.

„You are.“

„I’m sorry for grinding, God help me!“

„He won’t. Cuz I’m here on your cloud. Cue stage number two of my demonic plan. Safeword?“

„It’s chocolate!“

„Mh. Good pick.“

The rest as usual. Tapping the thigh, yellow for pause, towels plus water ready, and always double-checking the lube in case of Jisung putting a glass of vegemite under your bed as his latest practical joke. Yes, it happened. It’s a whole new level of demonic. On the other hand: perhaps Felix’ ass could’ve actually handled it, Made in Australia it is. 

„Let’s go honey angel,“ you curl at his hair with a little finger just to tease him a little more. The answer is a little meow, at this point Felix’ communication skills have simplified to kitten vocabulary which always happens when he is nervous and looking forward to something.

Next thing poor Felix knows, his face has entered the scorching satanic abyss that is your cleavage. Literally, you’re burning up. It’s fucking October and Felix has you breaking a sweat from all your horniness (literally, your horns are just that chic) already. Twice the reason to punish the shit out of him. If that can be considered anything near a punishment.

A shower of various „Mh— nh!“ and mewling noises comes to rain down on you while Felix face takes a trip down mammary lane, and that, too, is literal. He’s salivating. So much about rain. Actually, great lubrication. Felix always does things best by instinct.

„Yes, good boy. Great job.“

Now that his mouth is wet already, you’re unceremonious about shoving your fingers right down his throat after he resurfaces. Blushed, hard, and ready to choke himself since he’s already running short on breath. It doesn’t take long until he’s gagging himself stupid and the sparkles under his eyes start running.

„Pretty, pretty,“ you lean down a little, kissing his nose. „Give me all you got.“

„Gh—gch—“

The answer is as slobbery and unintelligible as can be. To a normal human, at least. You’re a demonic top. That automatically means having an Ivy League major in gag noise translation.

„Oh yes, I know,“ you stroke his hair, using your free hand that usually rests at the back of his neck. „Talk to me about it. Exactly what I was thinking. Do go on.“

And he does, louder than ever. If there’s one satisfying sound, it’s this, that heavenly deep voice doing all kinds of nasty acrobatics is making you go crazy. That Felix is absolutely close to cumming in his angel pants is very much clear to you given how the veins and muscles on his neck are having a chaotic Halloween party on their own.

Which includes his tongue taking turns on your two fingers as well. And a wide-eyed Felix struggling, swallowing, holding on to your shoulders with his little feet twitching in their sneakers. Like mad… and you love it. But also — hopelessly sucking and moaning and slurping and squealing until his neck has way too much saliva on it for you not to make it your next target. Felix is so good at this. Way too good.

„Looks delicious,“ you lean in, your hair tickles his ears. And now, you’re busy nibbling, biting a little… and most importantly, giving Felix a wet hickey that will send his makeup artist — my God, you really torture the unsuspecting man almost weekly — into a meltdown. Rowdy and unholy is the look you’re going for.

In the meantime, Felix is still wrapped up trying to hit your fingers at the back of his throat. If his cute bouncy run and rude boner moment didn’t turn you on already, now you would be. The way he’s just sucking in his own spit makes you realize that you won’t ever need a fire brigade for your flat.

You emerge from his neck and raise your brows. Felix is just hard-wired to impress. „Just how much saliva can you produce!“

„Ch… Mnh— Nh…“

Hitting some more complex syntax and consonants there, is he.

„Oh, I get it now. You stayed hydrated during the day. Thanks for explaining, mate. That’s the secret.“

Whether that’s perfectly scientifically correct down to the enzyme theory and shit neither of you can google right now. At least you know that you’re both drenched on either end so that’s that.

Once Felix is so horny from deepthroating your damn hand that he has pull off and yellow-word, you’re already prepared for introducing a new position which you can prepare while he’s gathering himself and wiping off his chin. You hand him a second towel for his neck, and present him a little hand mirror to see how the hickey turned out.

„It’s shaped like, hm,“ he pants, words still slurring a little. „I dunno! It’s really cute!“

„Let me see… No doubt that’s a rice cake hickey. That’s the shape.“

„You’re right!“

And off he goes snapping a selfie with it while you get comfortable on your back, cleaning your own fingers.

„Just don’t upload that one to Insta instead of the cloud shots, we’re not gonna survive another Manager call at 1:15 AM.“

„Can I use your phone for it? That’s where it’s supposed to be on, anyway.“

Felix giggles a little. That cute brat. Always knowing how it’s done.

„Sure babe!“

And voilà, Felix is already occupied setting a good view of his new rice cake-shaped friend as your phone background. Good thing, helps his erection cool down a little, he was about to blow up his poor white pants. The acceptable unfair feat being that he’s just riling you up even more like that on the other hand.

„If you come to mommy now,“ you wriggle one foot in the air, the other splayed on the duvet, knee slightly bent. „Rubbing her pussy and doing your thing, you know how it goes.“

„Angel duties calling! What am I doing!“

At the speed of sound, Felix stores your phone back on the bedside table and crawls over in an instant. He props his chin on your abdomen and blinks.

„Sorry Ma’am. At your service. Never wanna keep you waiting.“

A big smile rouses his cheeks, and you boop them from either side. His peach fuzz is so soft and his eyes are so beautifully dark. You don’t waste any time keeping your skirt down for any longer. Another blink and Felix is already pawing — well, kneading and caressing technically — between your legs. He’s visibly understanding just how wet the whole finger sucking circus has left you now.

„What if I used my heels on your cock, boo. Still no cumming. Just my heels and my lil’ prince.“

Satanic plan stage number three. Felix has gotten to savor it last Christmas and for his birthday, and some time around the holidays in summer.

„I love it yay!“ Felix claps his hands. Baby, baby.

„C’mere then. Just keep on rubbing.“

His arms are fairly long enough. While you’re dragging the slender heels of either shoe right across the outlines on his crotch, Felix, eyes loosely closed, maintains a steady rhythm on your clit with three fingers lined up on the fabric of your panties.

„Oh fucking hell, Felix, shit—“

Whenever you masturbate, that alone would never do. You’d get frustrated after a while. Need more stimulation. But when Felix is on angel duty to keep your pussy soaked, it doesn’t need much to make your clit throb, even with your underwear still on. Guess that God’s little helpers know how to work their magic to make your head spin.

He’s hitting the right spot, with the right moves, and his other hand doesn’t miss out on a single opportunity to stroke at both the in- and outside of your thighs. The touch is so subtle, you twitch. Felix strokes on, delirious himself. His eyelids flutter.

„Fuck…“

Despite the little pause from earlier taking out most of his tension, your heels leave Felix with pants that are even more bulged out. That’s making it easy to direct your feet to jerk up and down at either side. You’d never know either of you would be so into this. Foot fetish and all.

Once he’s edged you to the point of moans, last thing you properly remember is calling it quits with the panties and telling him to line himself up. The heels kicked off, the skirt still on, you decide that unpacking your Halloween treat has been long overdue. You slide his pants down, roll down a pink condom, and grab his cock at the base to glide it all over your wet lips.

„Lix, come fuck me. You got me all horny. Satan is recruiting.“

„With me it’s not sinning,“ he smiles, brighter than the sun and you do right along. It’d be hard not to. Felix truly has the innocence of a virgin, the subtle confidence of an intermediate, the caution of a pro, and the kindness of a real veteran.

„You’re right about that Felix,“ you say, prop your entrance at the very tip, let the wetness do its job. „Come kiss your honey girl.“

And he does. Entering you with care for the right angle, letting your hip do the rest. What’s been circling and sucking your fingers so deliciously is now doing a hot job teasing and pleasing your tongue all over. His lips are amazingly soft and plump, they open so gently and feel electric on yours. A gentle squeeze around your left breast sparks a moan into the kiss from you. It’s Felix massaging your breasts while deepening his penetration, and you can tell the vegemite can stay under the bed today. You can tell Felix is getting more than flustered knowing it was all him who made you this dripping wet.

Even his dick seems to blush in sync. It’s fucking pink and red. Oh wait, that’s the condom. But knowing him and from your viewpoint, it’s still more flushed than before, no kidding. Faithfully pumping in and out of you at its full length now. You wrap your legs around his waist, the thrusts become deeper, shorter, parting you open much more, and filling you out so properly.

„So good. Right there, angel. Just right there. I’m loving that.“

Felix has a great dick. Best handy size, the girth’s comfortable, all nice and bendy, virtually no curve, you can always gyrate on it in any way and even take a complete 180 if you go from cowgirl to reverse (which you’d be doing right now but he’d crush his wings if he were on his back like that so no). Cherry on top, compact but soft balls that don’t steal the show but still do the trick during doggy. They’re whipping up the best cum in the world, so.

The slow kissing goes on and on and Felix tries to walk the tightrope of neither letting your pussy lips suck the orgasm out of him, nor making you cream his cock with shaky legs from all that gorgeous sloppy friction, and the kissing, and his sweet cherry shampoo scent that has your brain in absolute limbo.

With everything hanging by a thread like that, every kiss becomes special and full of a suspense that makes your lips tremble — either set, and Felix can hardly bear it himself.

His little halo is dangling back and forth, and you can tell by his face that all that thrusting has him in serious trouble. And you? Are fucking leaking and groaning, and that little shallow series of first contractions before your orgasm is already preparing you.

The sugar high from the cupcakes is fading, but your adrenaline is sure to replace it. You just want Felix to fuck you more and rock against him, and hold his head, and kiss him. God, his mouth is so warm and inviting, tastes so good like cocoa.

The pace joins yours without any effort, it adapts when your rhythm changes, and it stabilizes everything when you’re currently riding the high of his cock really filling you out so you can clench your muscles around him, feel him and tell him just you wait, I’ll milk you. He’s such a good kisser. You can feel all of your wetness running down your ass like it’s Christmas.

„Felix, I’m overflowing.“

„I’m so sorry,“ he whines into the kiss. „I’ll be washing the sheets.“

„Listen, baby,“ you break the tongue-on-tongue, „you doing laundry is really sexy. But the overflow is the best part. Just look what you’re doing to my body.“

You could ravage him on the spot. He’d probably lose it and cum in two seconds. Holding yourself before the edge is so tough right now.

„Shit… yellow again. Need a moment.“

Felix has to resort to a bit of cockwarming, and you use the little break to rid yourself off the harness. It’s not perfectly comfortable when you’re lying down. You’re about to fling it off the bed that Felix asks to wear it. Oh. Very well. It actually goes as a nice contrast on his white top, and the straps make it easy to adjust to him. And he wants it to sit on him really tightly. Oh again.

You realize—

On you, it’s only a fashion piece. Something random that came with the costume.

On him: It’s kinky.

„Hey hey. You look sexy, pum’kin,“ you pat at his chest. „Look at your waist, wow.“

Your sweet boy. It’s like it’s made for him. So cinched and the exact opposite of his costume. He’s a corrupted, dirty angel now, it’s perfect. With his pink neck and all sweaty face, and his little puppy gaze that will haunt you in your sex dreams because it literally just gets into your pants so much. Oh god, you just wanna cum. You have to distract yourself with chaste images of Felix washing the dishes or writing grocery lists with little hearts and emojis on them but that just makes it five times worse.

The way he puts the harness on with his dick inside you is so mouthwatering and cumworthy, you can’t wait to resume and switch your own brains off on that angel cock. Once Felix is ready to exit phase yellow and resume the session, your hands magically gravitate towards the straps of the harness at this waist.

„Can I?“

„M—hm!“

You have the time of your life grabbing and guiding him by the harness, controlling every thrust. Felix clenches up his teeth from how lavishly his cock is squeezing into your pussy.

„Oh babe,“ you groan out. „Fuck me, fuck me, fuck me. Come on, angel.“

He’s not going to take it much longer. Felix is tensing all over, neck to the knees, it’s a huge shock wave in the making. That climax is going to be like a fucking punch into outer space.

„I’m really at my limit, I’m, I’m…!“

„Cum for me, angel,“ you reach to his neck to bring his lips down again. Your mouths going into shaky contact brings a big soaring moan with it.

„Ahn—!“

You lock lips, his face scrunches up, and you can tell that cum worth of three orgasms is currently pooling into the condom. You don’t belong to the mile high club, but going by how far up this feels, you might as well be. Those sweet shivers. And the little whines. It’s all too much for him, this one got him bad. Felix cumming is like the angels really are singing. With bells and harps and all that shit at once.

After pulling out, the ruined condom goes off lightning fast. Felix’ cock gets some much-needed cooling, but his face is on heavy duty. How he does it after almost getting his lights turned off, it’s a mystery, it must have been six whole loads he shot into you. You’d already be collapsing in his shoes. Felix still being able to put his mouth to work is an act of divine intervention. Honestly though, it doesn’t even take half a minute. Sloppy head from Felix is cryptonite, your stamina comes tumbling down. His tongue just knocks you out with an overwhelming rush of pleasure.

“Oh— yes...”

What is gravity? You don’t know what north and south mean anymore. He laps and sucks you through your high and your legs give up their soldier service. All you see it fluffy blonde strands of hair peeking from below your skirt, a glimpse of the harness, the rest is heavy growling and swearing from all of the contractions and Felix getting raw and dirty Down Under with no fears, literally none, to bury his face and move it around and let his tongue loose. Time and again Felix shows you he’s a swallower. Satanic agenda: success.

For tonight, your pussy will be nothing but glitter, cum, and spit. Swollen like crazy, properly fucked, and tipped to the absolute limit. Felix keeps on slicking up his face completely, and then brings you into the afterglow with his fingers. One at a time, barely adding stimulation. Just fetching you where you are and climbing down. Looks like you’ll share the cupcakes, this is a couple hangover in the making. In Felix’ case in particular. It’s like he signed up for testing a mad scientist’s latest designer drug.

„Wow wow… So you served me choco cupcakes and God’s menu,“ is the last thing he can say in his delirium before falling over. He’s so fucked out and went so wild on eating you, a part of the harness came off. Thank god his nose is so small, all that swiping could’ve broken the bridge and whatnot. And his lips, they’re twice as plump. You really have to compliment in on what his mouth has done today because that was some champ shit.

You’re both buffering on the sheets for a solid five minutes until you roll to the side. Towel… water… forehead kisses. Yes, forehead kisses most importantly. After gathering yourself a little, you pamper Felix into a heart rate around 90 rather than 120. And with the onset of exhaustion for the two of you, that’s not too hard after some minutes passing. Whispering sweet nothings and praise is all you do up until 2 AM and after. Felix is somewhere between worlds, one foot in the door of the dreamland, the other soaking up the care and the intoxicating, thick scent of the room that has a lot of cherry shampoo in it.

At some point. You loosen the harness, pull off his shirt with the wings attached. The halo you unsuccessfully try to spot in his hair. Turns out: It flew off. Felix really must’ve made Satan proud if it fell down just like that. Good job. Felix has earned a title of being a dirty angel now, and by the way he’s chugging water now, a wet one on top of that.

Five tons of spit, six, seven, who knows how many he’s afforded for today. A head pat is not enough, it has to be several, and Felix passes out onto the pillows. As good as you can, you wipe him down, bin the condom, get off his shoes and his half-pulled down trousers. After staggering to the bathroom, your skirt and peplum shirt follows, the stockings stay on, they’re cozy as hell. Last but not least, you remove your devil horns. It feels like they granted you the most unknown demonic powers.

Next time Felix is on his way to making you cum again, you’ll be wearing them, and you’ll last the way you did tonight. Meanwhile, Bang Chan is blowing up your phone because Felix pressed send by accident earlier, but you don’t notice. It just keeps on vibrating on the bedstand and Chris will have to riddle over the rice cake selfie for the rest of November.

Felix dozes with an angelic little smile on his lips and puffs his cheeks in his sleep, his makeup wiped and his hair truly messy. Instagram can wait. Maybe you’ll get to brush your teeth a little later, it usually takes some time until you wake up again and topple to the sink. You huddle together, tuck your sweet baby pum’kin into his second favorite spot at your chest. Ah, the glory of Felix little spooning.

As the last signature, you nibble at his ear, call him your cutie pie, and switch the lights off. You have to listen closely but if you do, it’s like Felix is purring in his sleep. Whatever your own dreamland is planning to launch on you tonight, you’re looking forward to it.

© 2017-2020 submissive-bangtan. all rights reserved. reposts, modifications and translations are prohibited. character depictions are fictional & for entertainment purposes only.

PS — oh, my good ole fellas, a last cursed disclaimer. i must insist on the following for obvious reasons. vegemite makes for some terrible strap lube okay 😂🇦🇺

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[untaemedqueen]

Merry Christmas Kitten

Mafia!Jimin x Wife!Reader

Genre: Mafia!AU, Drabble, Fluffy Babies

WordCount: 2K

Warnings: Suggestive Actions and Words, Fluff, Crying Jimin

A/N: Merry Christmas my TBC/TLD fans! 

Based On The Book: The Bird Cage/The Lions Den

"What're you up to?" 

The voice draws your attention and you smile at your husband as he enters the apartment.

"Putting the presents under the tree before the kids wake up." you whisper softly, pointing to the long hallway where your children sleep comfortably.

"Oh, you're my Santa Claus this year, Kitten?" Jimin jeers sweetly, unbuttoning his suit jacket at a leisurely pace.

"Well I don't have a big belly so maybe a Mrs. Claus?" you joke, tilting your head.

His chuckle resounds throughout your new living room. His arms encircle you while his plush lips brush against your temple.

"Are you upset you can't be my Santa this year?" your husband inquires.

You snort gently, pulling away from him to look up at his handsome face. His silhouette is highlighted by the holiday lights that wrap around the large pine tree.

"What do you mean? Am I upset that I'm not pregnant?" you ask, feeling his hands run below your cardigan.

His skin is warm against yours and you never felt more relaxed.

"Yeah, I know you miss it." he murmurs, tilting your chin up with his index finger.

"Four kids is plenty, plus we're busy all the time. So it's not a total loss, I can do without it." you reply with a gentle smile.

"Wow, how did I get so lucky with you? Hmm, Kitten?" your husband coos.

He presses his lips to yours again and you melt in his arms so easily. He nibbles on your bottom lip, lifting you easily into his arms.

His walk to the couch is short and quick. He isn't shy about plopping you down onto the comfortable piece of furniture.

"My pretty Kitten." he whispers, running his thumb over your bottom lip.

He wrinkles his nose as he looks down at you. You're still the most gorgeous woman he's ever known. He's never gotten over how you're the first and only woman he's ever put any stake into.

When he steps away from you to pour himself a glass of whisky, you turn your attention to the large bay windows of the living room.

The balcony as well as the windowsills are covered in fresh blankets of snow. The glass of the windows themselves are frosted and hazy from the warmth inside the large apartment.

The glow from the streetlights leaves a pleasant shine to the snow covered cars and pavement. The sight fills you with joy. You only started to enjoy Christmas when your children were born. To see them so excited each year to see what Santa Claus has bought them is the highlight of your December month. 

Although you're coming to the realization now that Hawon is beginning to understand that these presents she receives on the winter holiday are not from a very rotund man that lives on the North Pole but from her two loving parents. Such is the product of having a nine year old daughter. 

You've become used to your kids not wanting to sleep on Christmas Eve, the amount of sugar combined with the excitement of the morning after and the giddiness from playing with their cousins is completely normal to you. You're used to them waking up at the crack of dawn, screaming for both you and Jimin to wake up. 

But this Christmas is special, in ways unimaginable.

"You want a glass of wine, Kitten?" your husband asks, plopping down beside you.

You shake your head, smiling at him as he runs his hands over your bare thighs.

"You made the new apartment so beautiful. I'm sorry I've been busy. It's been a lot of work to win the Busan Police over to our side." 

You can see how guilty Jimin looks and it breaks your heart. For years, everything he's done has been for your family. And you're more than grateful.

Sitting up on your knees, you give him a warm smile. You wrap your arms around his neck, taking in the rich scent of his cologne.

"Never apologize for taking care of us, Chim. We're so lucky to have such a good man like you in this family." you say honestly.

He snorts gently, placing his hands on your hips as you straddle him.

When his hands run over your nightgown, the silk draws him in like this is the first time he's touched you.

"How are you always so perfect? Hmm? You've given me four beautiful babies, you've made my heart swell more than anything and anyone. You're unreal. Like a dream." your husband mumbles, leaning in for a kiss.

His lips are incredibly soft against yours, they move in time with yours perfectly. It's sensual, addictive and so perfectly Park Jimin.

When he pulls away, his eyes focus on the clock above your Christmas tree. 

"Merry Christmas, Kitten." he whispers against your cheek.

"Merry Christmas, Daddy." he groans gently at the pet name, pulling your hips closer to him.

You gasp gently when he nibbles at your collarbone. His touch is simply magic, you can feel a whimper pass your lips as he holds you so tightly to him.

“Fuck,” he curses softly, completely abandoning his whisky for something even more intoxicating.

His fingers pull down the thin straps of your black nightgown, kissing at the skin just below them. 

You hiss gently when your sex brushes against him. He takes this time to flip you over, your hair splays over the large couch cushions and you gasp gently at the sudden shift.

“Goddamn, Kitten. You’re so beautiful.” his voice is filled with wonder.

His hands shove up your gown, exposing your bottom half to him and he’s very quickly becoming delirious with arousing intentions. 

“Who do you belong to?” he prods, raising an eyebrow as he looks up at you.

“You, Daddy. Only you.” you whimper, running your fingers over the dark green dress shirt he wears.

“That’s right.” he mumbles, bending down to kiss you.

His hands reach higher, fumbling with the silk material enwrapping you. He can only think of one thing -- you engulfing him in your pleasure.

“God, I love you.” he groans, pressing his hard erection to your loins.

“I love you too,” you reply breathlessly. 

He’s stolen the oxygen from your lungs and all that remains is a coiling desire that blooms in your belly.

When you lift up to unbutton his shirt, his hands leave your sides to inch up to your breasts. His fingertips graze your stomach and he hums gently. 

His lips find yours once again, biting your bottom lip for entrance and you accept immediately. He kisses you languidly, there’s no need to rush he would wait a million years for you.

His eyebrows furrow as he gasps gently against your lips. 

Your skin feels so soft in his hands. Like proving dough. 

Something is different. You’re usually soft but not this buttery and rich.

“Kitten.” he grumbles against your lips.

You hum inquisitively pulling away from him to card your fingers through his hair. He sits up on his knees, completely forgetting the task at hand.

“What’s wrong?” you mumble, pressing the tips of your fingers to your swollen lips. 

Your husband sits back on his heels, the cogs in his mind slowly turning. When his hands grip at your breasts, he tilts his head. Your bottom lip purchases between your teeth, your eyelids lowering with lustful intentions. 

He squeezes them while raising an eyebrow. You do your best not to flinch, but it’s a difficult task. They’re swollen and painfully heavy.

When Jimin notices your scrunched up expression, he scoffs gently.

“You have something to tell me?” he quips, eyes widening.

“No. I don’t think so,” you reply, unbuttoning his shirt with dexterous fingers.

“Kitten,” he chides softly.

He lifts you up easily, discarding the silk nightgown from your body.

You hide the knowing smirk that wants to grace your features quite well.

“Why are your tits so swollen?” he mutters, sucking a breath in through his teeth.

“Not sure.” you breathe out, pushing the shirt off of his body.

His hands trail lower and you sigh gently.

“Fuck me,” you whine, tugging at his suit pants.

He doesn’t reply, his curious mind already coming to multiple conclusions as to why you feel so different beneath him.

“Chim!” you huff.

“Shhh!” he silences you.

His hands are tentative as they reach your stomach. His digits flex nervously and you raise an eyebrow at how unsure he is.

You would think this is his first child and not his fifth.

When he presses his hands to your womb, his eyes flutter shut. “Your womb is hard.” he observes with silent wonder.

“Oh, really? That’s weird.” you mutter, holding a giggle back.

His skin stays planted to your stomach for what feels like forever and you pout at his stillness. He’s like a goddamn statue.

“I thought you were going to give me Christmas sex!” you whinge, sitting up.

“Are you pregnant, Kitten?” he inquires, already knowing the answer.

You look over at the clock again before sighing audibly. 

“Fine,” you grumble, standing up off the couch.

His eyes follow you, your outline is blurry from the joyous tears that threaten to spill over his cheeks. 

“K-Kitten?” your husband’s voice cracks and you snort gently to yourself.

Bending down to the bottom of the tree, you pull out a small box from the midst of other large packages and toys wrapped up for your children. 

Turning to him, you press the box to your chest.

He whimpers gently, opening his hands like a baby for the box. “Are you pregnant for me again?” he asks once more.

You smile warmly at him, tossing him the box which he catches easily with one hand. 

“Just tell me, I like to hear it from your lips.” he chides, ripping the wrapping paper off with a speed that could rival Usain Bolt.

He takes a sharp breath between his teeth as he looks down at the small white cardboard box.

His eyes flit from you to the package in his lap that feels as light as a feather but has the importance of the heaviest weight. 

“Kitten,” he breathes out.

He doesn’t know what to do. Like most times he’s assumed you’re pregnant. But, even when he’s simply assumed it, he’s always been right. 

You haven’t been actively trying and he’s been so busy lately since you’ve all moved to Busan that it hasn’t even flitted past his thoughts. Which is why this is the biggest shocker to him.

He seems to hold his breath as he lifts the lid of the box in question.

The living room is silent apart from the sounds of rain in the distance you play for Minseok to sleep easier. 

Jimin's hands shake as he pries the wrapping paper away from the contents of the box.

A loud sob rips from your husband. His hands cover his face while he cries happily.

You fold your arms over your breasts, laughing at his emotional state.

"Kitten," he whimpers.

Wiping his face, your husband looks through the box of presents.

He doesn't even know what to look at first. The pregnancy test that say positive is his first glance. Then his second glance falls on the sonogram picture in the middle of the box.

He cries softly, pulling the picture from the box. "Come here," he beckons you, opening his arms.

With a giggle, you walk over to Jimin. His arms wrap around you like needy vines.

His cheek mushes against your hardened womb and you call feel the tears that fall and coat your skin.

"Aigo," you whisper, running your hands over the back of his neck. 

"I'm so sorry I didn't notice, Kitten. I'm so sorry," he apologizes profusely, turning his head so his forehead rests against you.

"I bought the baby a little stocking." you whisper with a smile.

He hums cutely, unable to form words as his happiness floods through him. 

Bending over him, you pull the stocking out of the small white box. 

Wiping his tears away, he narrows his eyes at the letters along the stocking.

'Park Baby #5'

He chuckles softly, looking up at you like you tether him to this planet. His eyes are so soft, so completely adoring you.

He stands tall, pressing his hand to your stomach as he bends down. His lips are gentle against you, kissing you with unbridled love and adoration.

"I love you." he whispers.

"I love you, too." you reply, handing him the stocking.

He looks down at it, a cute pout forming on his features.

"I can't believe it," he mutters, walking over to the fireplace.

It's then that he notices a seventh hook above the roaring brick opening.

You're such a slick woman. It's incredible.

When he hangs the small stocking, he feels his heart race at the sight. You've always been such an impressive lady.

"Merry Christmas Kitten." he swoons. 

"Merry Christmas Daddy," you reply with a wide smile.

He falls to his knees before you, kissing your flat stomach and you can all but die right then and there. He's perfect and he's yours.

"I can't believe I didn't notice. I'm so sorry." he whispers against your skin.

You snort gently, tilting your head. "Now you know." 

He nods in agreement, his eyes fluttering closed at the new information. 

Moving to Busan is the best thing you've ever done, in your opinion.

"So… are we not having sex now? Or?" you find yourself asking.

He laughs gently, looking up at you as he places his chin against your stomach.

"Of course I'm going to fuck my pregnant wife, are you insane? I need to thank you for making me the happiest man alive." he retorts, standing up.

You grip onto his belt, pulling him toward your bedroom. "With your cock?" 

"Yes, Kitten. I'm going to thank you with my cock." he mumbles, wrapping his arms around you and trudging behind you to the bedroom.

[solarsleepless]

Spare some puffychu headcanons?

boy oh boy i have a bunch of headcanons depending on which au it is, but i'm just gonna go w a fix-it version of canon

TW for mention of suicide and suicidal thoughts

- puffy and niki live in a cottage together, kind of isolated but not far from snowchester

- puffy gives therapy to niki, in turn niki gives therapy to puffy because god knows puffy needs it

- niki and puffy bake together!! usually they just bake like simple stuff such as brownies but they have made two-tier birthday cakes!!

- puffy always gets covered in frosting whenever they work with it and tries to catch niki to cover her in the stuff and it ends up being a game of tag

- puffy's really impatient when it comes to it actually baking so she asks every five seconds: "is it done?"

- on the other side, however, niki trains with puffy

- because niki firmly stated that she wanted to learn other forms of combat, not just techno's

- puffy taught her her way of doing things

- while techno's is more flashy and quick from being on hypixel so long, puffy's is a healthy mix of offence and defence, though slightly more offence

- she uses swords more often even though she knows axes can cause more damage

- she's shit with a bow and arrow but great with a crossbow, and in turn niki becomes OP because she was good at using a crossbow before

- they go fishing in a littol boat. puffy purposely made it a littol boat because she wanted to be close to niki, and because they would have to hold onto the other's waist

- theyve slow danced before. trust me on this one

- they have little stim moments together, where they just look at eachother then flap their hands really hard. its just a fun littol thing

- puffy takes care of niki's animals

- puffy doesn't like going to niki's secret city because of the prison-cell-room

- and while puffy ofc has her "i'll sacrifice myself for the good of the server" complex, she's not inherently suicidal. niki, however, gets episodes where she just sits on a roof feeling empty. puffy always recognizes the signs of when niki goes to the roof and goes with her. not to convince her not to even tho she tries to gently do that too, but just to talk w her. have a conversation. if she gets niki to talk, she's successfully stopped niki from jumping. if she doesn't, she grudgingly throws a weakness potion so that puffy can carry her back to bed

- puffy on the other hand experiences nightmares more often than niki, a sign of the egg's lasting impact on her brain and thoughts

- more often than not she wakes up screaming

- so niki does the "five things you see" trick to ground her. it always works, and puffy and niki have a hot chocolate in silence after it.

- if we're going w avian!niki, she pulls out her feathers when she's stressed as a form of self harm, whenever this happens puffy bandages niki's wing and allows niki to braid her hair

- wow this turned angsty real quick huh

[ollie-ollie-oxenfreee]

then came the morning (aka: the post - canon cuddle fic)

The work in progress is finally done! I’ve been chipping away at it for the past couple weeks now, and it’s gone through many drafts / iterations, but I think I’m finally happy with it. :)

Title from an album by the Lone Bellow. 

The first time the two of them “shared a bed” was about as awkward as one might imagine. The initiating circumstances were hardly any better.

 The heating apparatus in their quarters had given out a week or so back in a spectacular fit of dust - laden wheezing. The engineering crew called in to inspect it informed them that it couldn’t be fixed until they could pick up the right parts at the nearest trading post (which was naturally thousands of klicks away on the ragged edge of nowhere). With the ambient heat from the nearby engine room seeping through the wall, the conditions were deemed “unpleasant but survivable.” They were issued two extra threadbare blankets and told in tersely formal military - speak to deal with it. 

 And they’d dealt with it really well for a while! They grit their teeth and carried on like a couple of champs: Harrow, having been thoroughly warned against using her magic too frequently, layering on spare cloaks and sweaters until she almost disappeared under a mountain of black fabric; Gideon curling up close to the engine room wall and wincing when the cold sent spiteful twinges shooting through her still-very-busted knee. 

 But then one night their grand flagship of the revolution chugged through a particularly empty sprawl of space and began to slow down. The heat from the engine room guttered like a candle flame. Frost spiderwebbed across the thin plex of their window. Harrow’s breath showed in thin wisps of vapor as she huffed, glaring down at the pages of her book like she wanted to reprimand the cold for daring to interrupt her studies. 

 Gideon had half a mind to encourage her to try (that glare could stop a full - fledged Lyctor in their tracks, who knew what other horrifying powers it possessed?), but thought better of it when she saw the genuine exhaustion in the other girl’s eyes.

 “You doing alright over there, my vulturine vicar?” she asked. “I know it takes some time to absorb all that good bone knowledge, but you haven’t turned a page in like half an hour.”

 The thunderous look on Harrow’s face darkened further as she set her book aside with an exasperated thump. “This is ridiculous. I studied in the depths of Drearburh for years without any issue, and yet here I am struggling to focus like a novice. It isn’t even that cold.” She bit her lip as a shiver ran through her at the words. 

 “Evidence seems to suggest otherwise, o mistress of melancholy. Do you want me to go ask that guy in the supply room for another blanket? He still owes me for his son’s fencing lesson.”

 Supply room guy didn’t really owe her anything, but she knew that mentioning it would make Harrow feel better. If she could believe that the nice things Gideon did for her were actually for Totally Self - Serving, Debt - Settling reasons, she could accept them without feeling guilty.

 (Guilt had haunted Harrow more than ever upon returning to her own body, making it hard to breathe on good days and leaving her shaking with sobs on bad ones. 

It was one of those fun little things they had in common.)

 From the way Harrow’s shoulders stiffened, though, it seemed that Gideon Nav’s patented Guilt Workaround wasn’t going to be as effective as usual. She shook her head - a stiff little gesture that made her earrings rattle - then sighed. 

 “No. Thank you, though, it’s kind of you to offer.” 

 The thank you was sincere, and that was admittedly pretty nice, but all the sincerity in the world wouldn’t change the fact that Harrow was still  very obviously shivering. She looked miserable beneath her usual mask of face paint and stoicism. The dark red bead of blood-sweat trailing down her temple indicated that she'd probably tried using some kind of homeostasis theorem, but it wasn't working well enough. 

 There had to be a solution to this problem somewhere. Harrow's stubborn pride meant that she wouldn't accept help outright - she would sooner set her books on fire than admit what she thought of as a weakness - but if Gideon could play it just right, maybe she wouldn't have to. It would need to be done carefully - too sappy and she'd be uncomfortable, too straightforward and she'd balk.  Casual, Gideon decided. Nice and casual was the way to go. It would just be a matter of execution.

 "Soooo," she said at length, leaning back against the wall all cool and easy. (She folded her arms up behind her head as an afterthought, appreciating the way it made her still-atrophied-but-getting-there muscles stand out through the thin fabric of her shirt. Confidence boosts were going to be scarce and sorely needed in the conversation to come - she’d take them where she could get them.)

 Naturally, Harrow did not appreciate the change in tack or the cool-and-easy-ness. She did, however, manage to muster up a look so steeped in wary disapproval that it cut through her earlier frustration like a hot knife through bone marrow. “So.”

 “You sure about that blanket? Because really, it would only take me a second -”

 “I’m sure. Thank you.”

 “Then, um, did you want to borrow mine?”

 Harrow blinked. “You need yours.”

 “Yeah, I know! I meant that we could maybe - share. Pool our resources.” She patted the edge of her bunk gamely, then instantly regretted it when Harrow’s eyes narrowed even further. 

 “You want us to sleep together?”

 "No? I mean, technically, but no. In the literal way. Not the other way.” Well maybe the other way sometime if you wanted to but that’s a whole other weird conversation that we probably shouldn't touch with a ten foot pole or we might explode. 

 "How exactly would that work?" The caution was still heavy in Harrow's voice, but some of the disapproval had ebbed away. 

 "I mean. We'd probably need to use my bed, since my sheets aren't covered in gross bone gobbets, but you could bring your blankets over and layer 'em over mine and then we'd have twice the blankets! And, you know, body heat. Which has its perks." Even Gideon's cool-and- easy-ness faltered at that, but she bravely soldiered on. "The point is, we'd both be warm."

 "And it won't - make things weird?" 

 "Nope! Not weird. All perfectly chill, my shivering scion."

 Harrow paused for a moment, worrying her lip between her teeth. "I'll get ready for bed," she said at last, clipped and decisive. "And I'll think about it."

 "Take your time. I'll be here."

 Moments later, after the shivering scion had swept grandly out of the room, Gideon's Thinking Brain crashed unceremoniously into her Talking Brain. Things were not, in fact, going to be perfectly chill. There were going to be some logistical problems with this arrangement. Big logistical problems.

 Big logistical problems namely revolving around the mutually exclusive facts that the midnight monarch was not especially comfortable with touch, and Gideon Nav, space - bee slayer and resurrected badass, was a sleep cuddler.

 Or, well, she was in theory. She didn’t have much (any) “real world” experience to go on, but she’d woken up many, many times back on the Ninth with a bundle of blankets wrapped up in her arms or nestled close to her chest. The habit had never really embarrassed her back then - she actually kind of liked it. She felt warmer and less lonely when she had something to hold, even in the frigid emptiness of her cell. 

 But that was back then. Things were different in the here - and - now. Harrow was in the here - and - now, and Gideon would never forgive herself if she ruined things with Harrow right when their relationship was on the upswing. They were actually talking, slowly figuring out how to work together again. The furious, tearful intensity between them in the wake of their reunion had calmed and warmed into something almost like real friendship. 

 After all that had happened - everything that had gone wrong over the past year and a half - they’d found a fragile sort of peace. There was no way in Hell she was going to ruin that peace now.

 So while Harrow swished about getting ready for bed, Gideon leveled with herself and laid down some ground rules. Don’t make this weird, Nav. Make sure she’s comfortable, give her her space, and don’t think about cuddling with her. 

 ...even though it would probably be warmer, and she has shitty necro circulation and essentially no body mass so she needs all the warmth she can get, and she gets that kinda soft peaceful look on her face when - no, fuck, see? You’re doing it already. Even if she did like you like that, which she absolutely doesn’t because she’s got a good old-fashioned frostbite girl back home, that’s not what you’re here for. You’re her cav. Her sworn sword. You’re here to do your job and make sure she doesn’t get her thumbs bitten off again. That’s it.

 “You’re staring.”

 Harrow’s voice cut sharp as a bone shard through Gideon’s nervous thought - spiral. Having apparently completed her grim evening rituals, she’d settled lightly on the far edge of the to - be - shared bed, countless dark layers poofing out around her like the feathers of a posturing crow. Her face was flecked with dots of gray from scrubbing off her paint, and her short hair stuck up in messy licks of black fluff despite her increasingly irritated attempts to smooth it flat. 

 It shouldn’t have been endearing. It really, really shouldn’t have. 

 It was.

 Gideon was so screwed.

 “Shit,” she muttered, scrubbing a hand over her face to ground herself. She glanced over to meet Harrow’s eyes (and wow, was that a mistake, they were as mesmerizing a swirl of black and gold as ever), then forced a smile like she wasn’t screaming internally. “Sorry. Zoned out a little. You good to go?”

 The wryly exasperated glint in Harrow’s eyes made them glow even brighter in the dim light. “Yes, I’m ‘good to go,’ thank you. Are you, though? You look … troubled.” 

 Shit. Shit. Shit. Think nice, normal thoughts. Don’t let her know. She cannot know. 

 “I’m always good, my chthonic countess,” she lied, smooth as could be, throwing in a roguish wink for good measure. That was distractingly stupid enough, it was bound to work.  

 Harrow frowned. “Why are you blinking like that?”

 The roguish wink apparently had not worked. 

 “No reason! Just dust. In my eye. Lots of very rude dust landing right in my eye. Anyway. How are we doing this?”

 A flicker of genuine, anxious concern ghosted over Harrow’s face as her frown deepened. 

 “Gideon,” she began, in that slow, reluctant way of hers that heralded Incoming Indignity. “I know that you were the one to suggest this, but I want to impress upon you that if you aren’t - certain about it, there is another possible solution.”

 She cast around the room for a moment and reached for a massive, dusty tome at the top of a nearby stack, flipping determinedly through the pages. “I've had the idea for some time, but I only just managed to convince our commanding officer that I could use theorems 'responsibly' without their constant supervision, so I haven't been able to test it until now. Small - scale thanergetic fission reactions produce sparks of flame that, if handled extremely carefully, could give off enough heat - "

 “Wait.” Gideon held up a hand, her own anxious brain jolting back online at the word flame. “Wait, wait, wait. Harrow. Seriously? The concern is sweet, don’t get me wrong, but your other solution is death - fire?”

 “I said that it was a possibility,” she snapped back, that old brittle defensiveness calcifying over the vulnerability in her voice. Her posture straightened with a great rustling of robes: shoulders back, chin high, eyes gleaming with disdainful pride as the bones scattered about their room twitched to life. Looking for all the world like she had when they were ten - twelve - fourteen - sixteen, bitter and vicious and spoiling for a fight. 

 She seemed to realize it right when Gideon did. Her eyes widened, then closed. The bowstring tension in her shoulders slowly ebbed away as her half - formed constructs clattered to the floor. “Sorry,” she said at last, her voice a threadbare murmur. “I’m sorry. That was - uncalled for.”

 “It’s a reflex. I get it.” And she did - she’d done the same thing countless times, had a hand on her sword and a barbed insult on her tongue without even thinking about it. 

 Another one of those fucked up things they had in common. 

 An uneasy silence settled between them, broken only by the rumbling hum of the engines, the thud of footsteps in the hall. 

 “I meant it, you know,” Harrow said, after a long moment. “About other options. It was a half - baked and immature attempt, but I wanted to give you an out if you were uncomfortable.”

 “Yeah, I know, my sepulchral sage. I appreciate it. Half - baked immaturity and all.” She bumped her shoulder gently against Harrow’s, then flopped back on the bunk to stare up at the low ceiling. “Are we, like, committing to honesty hour tonight? How deep into feelings do you want to get?”

 “As deep as is comfortable.”

 “That’s what she said.”

 “It’s a reasonable thing for her to say.”

 Another hush fell over them, marginally more comfortable than the last, as Gideon worried her lip between her teeth and counted the cracks in the ceiling above her. There were nine of them in total. Go fucking figure.

 A bony finger poked her in the side after a few cycles of counting. “Were you going to elaborate, or was that all just a set - up for one of your charming jokes?”

 “I can’t believe it took you eighteen years to finally admit that they’re charming, but no, that’s not why I said it. I’ll lay bare my tender squishy heart for you, penumbral lady. Because you asked so nicely.” 

  Because I think you might already have it. 

 No avoiding it now. Might as well bite the bullet and dive in. 

 “I was on board with the cuddle thing from the beginning, but I felt like you wouldn’t be, and I panicked. You probably already knew that because you’re way more creepily observant than you have any right to be, but there it is. Out in the open.” 

 She squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could just run away and hide from the other girl’s piercing gaze. “I just don’t want to fuck things up with you, Harrow. I feel like we’ve got a kind of good thing going now. You haven’t called me a useless halfwit in forever, and I haven’t called you a heinous bitch in forever, and I haven’t wanted to. That’s unheard of for us. I don’t want it to go away.”

 Her voice cracked, and the most damning words burst forth like flowers through concrete: “I don’t want to give you a reason to shut me out again.”

 The memories of those nine months flashed in fragmented mosaic through her mind - the slick stone walls of the well, the freezing churn of the water, the burn in her muscles as she desperately thrashed up toward the surface and reached for someone who didn’t even know she was there. The gut - wrenching loneliness that defined her entire fucking life coalescing in that pit of brackish darkness. The chant rattling on loop in her mind as the water pulled her under: Harrow, what happened, what did you do, why the fuck did you leave me here, I had a purpose, I threw myself on that goddamned rail for a reason, was that not enough for you? 

 Was I not enough for you?

 A cool, fine - boned hand laced with hers and squeezed, just once. The memories blurred. 

 “Gideon,” the voice that had haunted her all that time said. “You know - you have to know that isn’t why I did it.”

 “Why did you, then?”

 A tiny hitch of breath. A soft, almost incredulous laugh. Then:

 “Because I loved you.”

 The words hung heavy in the frozen air. 

 “You - what?”

 “I loved you.” She said it so simply. Like it was something she’d come to terms with long ago. “I loved you beyond reason, and for once in my life I wanted to do right by you and keep you safe as you did me. The motivation doesn’t justify a moment of it, I won’t pretend it does, and I can’t even begin to erase the hurt it caused you. But I need you to understand that it was never because of something you did wrong. You are good, darling. Good to the core. You always have been.”

 Bright spots bloomed before Gideon’s eyes as her reeling mind fought to catch up. Three thoughts sprang unbidden to the forefront:

 Mmf.

 And: Darling?

 And:

“Loved. You said ‘loved.’ Why the past tense?”

 She sat there, staring blankly up at the ceiling, half - expecting a don’t be presumptuous, Griddle or something even remotely normal, at least. What she got instead was another laugh, halting and shaky and suddenly deeply bitter. The hand in hers went rigid and drew away. 

 “I came to my senses. I remembered the countless awful things I’ve done. Saw myself for the leech that I am. I’ve taken and taken and taken from you, over and over again, torn away at your life like a scavenger, I can’t steal anything more  - “

 “Who said anything about stealing?”

 For the first time since the grand awkward commencement of honesty hour Gideon felt a genuine smile bloom across her face. “Come on, Nonagesimus, give me some credit. You honestly think I would have stuck around this long if I didn’t know what I was giving you? If I wasn’t getting something out of it too?”

 “What could you possibly be getting out of it?”

 “You. I like you. Like, a lot. More than I ever thought I would. And I know the brain weasels are going to start yammering about how that’s impossible, and you don't deserve it, and we've still got a mountain of baggage left to work through, but I’ve thought about it a lot and I really mean it. Having you with me has made this whole shitty thing infinitely less shitty."

 With a surge of sudden bravery and dizzy emotion, she reached out to take Harrow's hand again and, giving her ample time to pull away, pressed a feather - light kiss to the back. “If you want me here too, sunshine - as your cav or your friend or something else - then I'm not going anywhere."

 Harrow closed her eyes, took a deep shuddering breath, and - smiled. A real one, slow and hesitantly sweet, lighting up her careworn face. "I need to think about it - we both should think about it. But I do want you here, in whatever way you want to be."

 "Yeah? Cool."

 "Cool."

 Silence settled upon them for the third time that night, but this time it was different. It was soft and tentative, fragile and new, like budding grave - flowers reaching for the sun. First flowers, the both of them, clawing up out of the grit and finding a way to bloom.

 "Should we go to sleep now?" Harrow asked at last, her rasping voice low and quiet. "It's getting late."

 "We probably should. Cam and Pal are gonna kill us if we're not up by 6:00 tomorrow. Are you still up for this, though? Like, the whole 'two girls, chilling in a military bunk, zero feet apart 'cause they're freezing and also maybe like each other' thing?"

 "Yes. On one condition."

 "Anything."

 "This might be difficult for you."

 "Seriously, Harrow, just tell me. Name it and it's done."

 "No sex jokes."

 She heaved a sigh, mock - exasperated and so stupidly fond. "As you wish, my dearest darling death omen. As you wish."

 It took a while to get comfortable - with Harrow's knobby elbows jabbing Gideon in the stomach, Gideon's clunky knee brace getting tangled in the sheets, the blankets collectively giving up and puddling on the floor at least ten times - but eventually, like everything else, they made it work. They fumbled through the sleep - cuddling confession with an admirable lack of panic on both sides, culminating in a firm agreement that they would let each other know the moment they were at all uncomfortable and an "I trust you" from Harrow so pure in its sincerity that it would be ringing through Gideon's mind for at least a myriad.

 Harrow was the first to fall asleep, curled up tight in a cocoon of black fabric, the dark crown of her head just barely brushing the sunburst scar on Gideon's chest. Her shallow breaths fell into an even, steady rhythm, interspersed with whistling snores that Gideon was definitely going to tease her about when her heart was less of a melted puddle of goo. 

 The minutes slipped by warm and slow as drops of honey as her own eyes grew heavier, fluttering closed. She gave her necromancer - her Lyctor - her beautiful baneful bone empress one last sleepy smile, and drifted off.

 (When Camilla went to shake her sparring partner awake the next morning, she found the two of them still sound asleep, wrapped up in each other's arms and looking more peaceful than she'd ever seen them. She huffed a laugh, muttered "finally," and let them be.)

[ship-ambrosia]

Chilumi Week Day 1 - Angel Wings (Family)

I’m so excited to participate in a ship week again, you guys!! I have sooo many ideas for this ship it was really difficult choosing just one prompt for each day lol

Summary: Tonia admires the angel her brother brought home with him.

   It was the first thing Teucer had mentioned after being escorted home.

   No apologies, no hugs for his parents or other siblings. Not even seeing their brother, Ajax, was the first thing out of his mouth. No, it was-

   “I met the nice lady that big brother wrote about in his letters, Tonia!” Teucer exclaimed excitedly, nearly jumping out of his skin. “She was so pretty, and she watched over me while he was away selling his toys! She took me all around Liyue!”

   Her first thought was Wow, Ajax pawned off Teucer to some poor girl he’d only recently met. Of course, Tonia’s interest was still piqued by this - her older brother had never really liked anyone before, never been a people person, while they were growing up. On top of that, she knew the truth about his job; he was a Harbinger for the Tsaritsa, and while he spared her much of the details, she heard stories. She knew what they did. She really wanted to know what this girl was like, to have caught her brother’s attention while he was fulfilling his job for the Archon.

   Once Teucer had been scolded by their mother, Tonia was back to watch duty. They had all been worried sick when he disappeared, relieved only when her oldest brother’s letter arrived and explained that Teucer had somehow made his way to Liyue, and that he would make sure Teucer got back safely. She had him seated in the kitchen with her while she cooked. On and on, Teucer continued to babble about the girl, Lumine.

   “And then, she showed me the courtyard at the top of Liyue! She told me that was where she and big brother met! She said she was in a lot of trouble, but big brother saved her! My big brother is amazing!” Teucer excitedly threw his hands in the air, which made Tonia giggle. She thought she’d like to hear the story from Ajax, himself, when he returned home.

   “I made the nice lady promise to come visit when she gets to Snezhnaya,” Teucer continued. “She’s a traveler! But she made me a pinkie promise, so she has to come!”

   “Oh, then she will definitely be here,” Tonia agreed. “You told her what happens when you break a pinkie promise, right?”

   “Mhm!” He nodded enthusiastically, then began to recite the rhyme. Tonia wished she could have seen the look on the traveler’s face, because she knew the rhyme was a little much for people not from Snezhnaya.

   “...the frost will freeze your tongue off, so you never lie again!” He finished, a proud look on his face.

   “Very good, Teucer,” Tonia turned to him, smiling. “Now, why don’t you tell me about what big brother got you?”

   Her younger brother’s eyes widened comically. “I almost forgot! Big brother took me to his Toy Research factory, where he makes all the Mr. Cyclops! And then he gave me my own Mr Cyclops! Oh, and the nice lady was there too...”

   She continued to listen to him, giggling all the while, wondering what the real story behind Ajax and Lumine taking Teucer through the “Toy Research factory” was.

   There was a restlessness that stirred among the entire family throughout the day, and settled as dusk fell. The Tsaritsa’s Winter Festival was upon them, and Ajax had sent ahead that not only would he be returning to Snezhnaya on the Holy Day, but that he had a guest to bring with him.

   Tonia knew it was Lumine - it had to be. The only other person she could ever see him actually wanting to bring home to them was the Tsaritsa, and even then he’d made it clear he was trying to keep his family away from his business as a Harbinger. She was sure the rest of her family knew it too; Teucer, however, excitable as he was, was the only one to voice their collective thought.

   “Mama and papa are going to meet the nice lady!” He exclaimed. “Tonia and Anthon too!”

   Most of their replies were laughter and encouraging Teucer, but for the rest of it they stayed relatively silent, like they were collectively holding their breath. Even now, as their mother was watching Teucer, Tonia sat with her other brother and the two of them remained quiet. She wasn’t nervous, in fact she was bursting with curiosity. There was just something about it that made no one want to speak.

   The door to their home opened suddenly with no warning, though it swung open agonizingly slow. Both she and Anthon were on their feet in an instant, sharing a glance of bewilderment. Neither of them were truly prepared, and they would be the first to see their brother and his guest.

   Ajax appeared through the door first, and despite her burning lungs, Tonia couldn’t help the smile that crossed her face upon seeing him. It had been so long since she last saw her brother, and yet he looked like he hadn’t changed a day. If it had only been him stepping through the door, this would have been a wonderful day. But it wasn’t; once he had fully crossed the threshold, she saw that there was a white-gloved hand in his own, guiding this girl he had written so much about into their home. She noticed Ajax turn his head to look toward his guest before she saw the Traveler herself.

   Lumine, this girl she had read so much about, how what a strong-willed and skilled warrior she was, looked surprisingly bashful as she followed Ajax inside. Tonia was struck immediately by how pretty she was. Blonde hair and eyes the color of amber honey. She wore a knee-length coat that was also feather white, adorned by white fur that gave her the silhouette of angel wings. Truly, Tonia didn’t think she’d be any more surprised had the girl walked into their home with wings spreading out from her back. She was so ethereal, they would only make sense.

   “Lumine, this is Tonia and Anthon, my other siblings,” Her older brother was the first to speak, probably because both she and Anthon were stunned. “Of course you already know Teucer, wherever he is.”

   The Traveler bowed her head politely toward them. “A pleasure it is to meet you,” her voice was gentle, sweet. Tonia thought it sounded like how she imagined spring, growing up in a land of eternal winter. “Both of your brothers told me so much about the two of you.”

   “Likewise,” it seemed like Anthon had gathered his senses before her, walking over to shake her hand. Tonia was snapped out herself by seeing the look in her younger brother’s eyes. He was starstruck.

   She followed him quickly, instead collecting the other young woman in a warm embrace. She was smiling again when she pulled away. “Jaxy has told us so much about you.”

   Lumine giggled, a sound just as predictably pretty as it could be. “Jaxy?” She looked up toward him, and Tonia watched as her brother suddenly became very interested in the floor. 

   He rubbed the back of his head. “I suppose I forgot to mention what everyone likes to call me.”

   Tonia was so dumbfounded by the blush she saw appearing across his face, that she nearly missed what Lumine said next.

   “Understandably, since all you ever think about is fighting with me!”

   Before either Tonia or Anthon could comment on that statement, she watched as his face rose back to meet her gaze. Ajax put an arm around Lumine, resting his hand on her back. “Come on, let’s go find Teucer. He’s going to lose it if he thinks you didn’t come find him immediately.”

   “You’re probably right, he hasn’t stopped talking about her since he returned from Liyue,” Tonia agreed after she had recovered, indicating them toward the back of the house. “He’s in the den with mother.”

   “Well then, if you’ll follow me, my lady,” her brother flashed his guest a brilliant smile, leading her toward the den. Tonia noticed his hand slide down to her lower back as he guided her.

   She jumped a little, hitting him lightly on the arm, trying to escape his grip. “Ajax!” Her brother simply chuckled, and pulled her closer. But just the sound of his name on her lips made her brother visibly swoon, as though she had never said it before.

   His gaze hadn’t once left Lumine’s face since he looked back to her in the doorway, except for when she had teased him over his nickname. It was even better than Tonia could have imagined. 

   She thought Ajax hadn’t changed a bit from the last time she had seen him, but she saw now that she had been wrong. He was so much softer, his expression, his eyes, his body language. They were quite the sight together, her brother a mix of ginger hair, black and gray and red, while the girl beside him contrasted his appearance with white and gold, like she came down from Celestia itself. Tonia didn’t think it could be more like something straight out of a fairy tale. She had barely known the Traveler for a few minutes, and she knew immediately that her brother was in love.

[keilemlucent]

Could I get a request for a female reader with Hawks! I was thinking that the reader and Hawks have a playful interactions where they tease each other a lot. Then one day the reader finds spicy m&ms and tries to prank hawks, but it backfires on her? Thank you! 💕

oh wow this one got SPICY

warning: r18+!!! angry keigo

Keigo was too fucking stealthy to have prank wars with, but you’d be damned to not try. Each time you tried to set him up to get absolutely dunked on, he quickly thwarted it with a smile on his face. ‘Innocently’ taunting you about the act.

Your latest failure had been frosting cookies with toothpaste, which only made Keigo howl with laughter.

“Seriously, babe,” He fell back over the arm of the couch, wheezing. “You really thought I’d fall for that? They reek of fluoride and mint, (Y/N).”

You could only frown, stewing in your countless losses.

So, you kicked it up a notch.

Your newest prank was much more... devious. A bit more harmful, but damn, if it actually worked? The look on Keigo’s face would be priceless. Part of you actually wanted to set up a hidden camera in order to record his response, but you opted against it.

You really wanted to savor the moment.

The moment Keigo left for work, you flitted into the bathroom, a small bag from the beauty store slung over your arm.

You set to work, switching and mixing bottles. You knew this was at least... very, sorta shitty, but also, Keigo would have the money to correct whatever you created. Not to mention the pranks that he tended to pull on you also had some disastrous outcomes.

(See: that one time Keigo tricked you into eating straight mayonnaise mixed with his own nut or that other time he thought it would be hilarious to replace all the food in the apartment with blue gatorade(? you really didn’t get this one, but it was annoying as hell so you supposed it was a success.))

But, your prank, your magnum opus, was going to outdo anything either of you had done before.

You sat back and relaxed most of the day, having the day off. You cleaned a bit, took a nap, normal things. By the time evening rolled around Keigo arrived home, you’d almost forgotten about the prank.

When Keigo flew back in, he looked haggard. His wings were nearly stripped, the feathers remaining torn up and frayed. The first thing you noticed when he stepped in from the balcony was the completely filthy state he was in, covered head to toe in dried blood and dirt.

When you got up to help him, he quickly assured you he was only banged up and that the blood wasn’t his.

“I’ll feel better after I shower,” He kissed you on the forehead as he walked by, dropping his filthy jacket in a hamper as he went to the bathroom.

It was a good while into the water running to fully remember.

The prank.

You shot up, eyes wide, staring at the door of the bathroom. You could hear Keigo cooing and humming under his breath as he washed himself peacefully.

He has no idea.

Running up to the door, you gave it a quick knock, opening your mouth to speak, but Keigo was far faster in cutting you off, “Sorry, honey! I’ll be out in just a sec, I’m almost done.”

You blanched.

The water turned off a few minutes later.

Shit.

You heard Keigo’s sharp gasp from inside the bathroom, followed by a string of nasty curses.

“(Y/N)?!” His voice rang with sing-song rage.

Oh fuck.

You might’ve taken it too far. Maybe.

Maybe.

Keigo burst from the bathroom, steam rolling from the opening.

He walked out, face flushed in anger and eyes vibrant against his newly darkened hair.

The prank worked, but at what cost?

His pretty, golden waves had been inked, stained black by dye you had mixed in with his conditioner and shampoo.

He stared you down, nothing but a towel slung on his hips.

You nervously smiled, “You’ve been pranked.”

Keigo deadpanned, horror overtaking his features as he processed your words.

“You... dyed my hair. As a prank.”

“That’s what I said, isn’t it?”

Keigo wet his lips, running a hand through his hair to tug a clump of strands down to inspect them.

You swallowed.

“I mean, good job,” Keigo released the strands, taking slow steps towards you. “On finally getting me back.”

You stumbled back, not liking the glint in his nearly-orange eyes, “T-Thank you.”

Your back hit a wall.

Keigo stalked you down, not speaking until he was chest-to-chest and bearing down on you.

Notably, Keigo was still fucking gorgeous. Changing his hair color didn’t at all prevent him from being the most stunning person on the planet. His new ‘look’ was just quite a bit... different. His rapidly drying, raven-colored hair made him look a few shades paler, the smattering of freckles of his nose and cheeks standing out more. The new, stark contrasts in his color palette brought out the red shade in his irises making them burn like fury-filled embers.

“If it makes you feel better,” Your mouth was almost too dry to speak. “You look really hot still?”

Keigo blinked at you.

“You think flattery like that is going to save you from your retribution?” His voice was clipped, but heavy. He was breathing heavily, pupils-dilated—

Oh.

Keigo scooped down, throwing you over his shoulder and clapping a hand on your ass, hard. Your cry was muffled by his back as he hauled you to the bedroom, towel lost on the way.

You were dumped onto the floor, falling to your hands and knees as your stared up at Keigo’s nude form. His newly brunet hair, sculpted, lithe muscles with his nearly featherless wings, he looked like some sort of fallen angel figure as opposed to the hero he usually played.

It was a good look, and it only served in making your insides heat up and breath come harsher.

Based on the way that Keigo’s dick was already fully hard, slowly being pumped by one of his vaguely dye-stained hands, he felt similarly.

Keigo’s free hand curled into the hair on the back of your head, dragging you forward. The head of his cock pressed into your hot cheeks, smearing a few pearls of preak.

“You’re real smart, you know, getting me back like this,” Keigo’s voice had gone eerily calm.

With a devious glint in his coppered eyes, he smiled, digging his nails into your scalp. The pain only made your press your thighs together, wishing for more.

Keigo apparently didn’t appreciate your response all that much.

His cock slapped against one of your cheeks, pressing the hot head of it against your lips, “Let’s just see if you can take what you dish out, angel, hm?”

You hollowed your cheeks, Keigo wasting no time pressing at the back of your throat. All you could do was stare up at him in his new raven-haired form, eyes watering as he fucked your mouth without pleasantries. As spittle leaked from your mouth, slick dripping from your cunt, you wanted nothing more than to try.

[bonesofapoet]

We Are Unsung Hymns

[jason todd x you]

author’s note: me: im only writing requests this year! also me: what if i explored the more Intense and Darker Themes of being with an anti-hero, especially when they kinda disappear, then show up half dead for the 32nd time? me again: so what im actually saying is due to Recent Events i am once again, projecting onto jason peter todd

p.s. dont judge me for the out of context Shelley quotes + this is a little rusty, i havent written in a hot second. tw blood + injury, alcohol, adult language, loneliness.

word count: 1678 (WOW)

Silence, to you, meant many things.

It was the soft hours of dawn, honey golden light streaming through curtained windows. It was the hush in your soul after a day so divine it felt more like a dream than anything else. Silence was the eye of a hurricane, the calm before the storm.

Sometimes, it was sinister. Silence meant unknown things seeping into hairline cracks left unguarded when things had been going good, going smooth, going so well you forgot life could be anything else, forgot that surprises still existed.

A day of silence had melted seamlessly into two, then drew slowly into four, even five. It had grown harder to keep your mind from straying, to keep yourself focused on the world in front of you and the people beside you. It was easier during the day as most things seemed to be, but, well.

Things were always fine, until they weren’t fine at all.

An arm of the couch, a corner chair. The windowsill cleared of clutter for seamless exits and entries under the cover of night – they all became prime places for dreaming and thinking, for worrying and waiting. For wondering if you were even allowed to be this worried, this affected, because it wasn’t like you and Jason Todd were technically dating, after all.

It was like being suspended in a sort of limbo, a liminal space; floating at a fixed point in space and time where you danced around whatever it was that had grown and blossomed so beautifully between the two of you.

Also known as: a purgatory, of sorts.

So you scrolled through old messages, camera rolls, curled up in the windowsill with a blanket and city lights for company, with city life for a soundtrack. This all dispelled the tension, the sporadic bouts of cracked composure; reliving memories that reminded you of his warmth, of his smile, focused on the ones that surrounded you with comfort. He would come home because he always came home, in one way or another – a little rumpled and tired, or a canvas stained with his journey.

You crawled into bed, grazed fingertips feather-light across his pillow, then dreamed.

Of course Jason was fine. Probably.

-

A few days later, you had become familiar with this feeling, you realized. Adjusting, finally, to all of this from the past, the present. This was your life now, and patience was a virtue. Resilience had to become one too.

Life went on.

And then you received a message, phone vibrating while out on an errand. Twilight was fast approaching, and you tried to race against the heavenly hues as they melted into deep peony pink, bled into bruised violet, became that deep navy blue always mistaken for midnight black.

Night was unpredictable, after all, and this one was no different.

{ Tuesday, 5:36 pm. From: Roy Harper

Coming in hot }

“Oh,” you said, startled. Your feet stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, crowded and loud – then suddenly, abrasively silent – but you began to move again, when your mind remembered what, exactly, that phrase meant. “Oh.”

You were home in record time. Everything happened fast, after that.

The first aid kit was in your hands within seconds, contents already finding their way onto a table, hands acted on muscle memory as they pulled a bottle of liquor, half full, from the cabinet as your front door flew open, ricocheted off the wall.

You didn’t even flinch.

“In here!”

Heavy, shuffled footsteps followed your voice. Roy and Kory hauled Jason onto the cleared space, and you didn’t bat an eye at that either.

His gear was off already, the clothes worn underneath already stained deeper, darker, saturated in places. His white streak wasn’t so white anymore, either. The harsh overhead light hid no details, and you wished this sort of scene still made you cringe, still made your breath catch and your brow crease in worry.

No one ever thought about what changed within you, when the life you crafted was suddenly full of superheroes and vigilantes. It’s never just learning how to stitch, how to help clean fancy bulletproof kevlar, or your rugs by extension. No, some changes ran too deep for anyone to see them, except for you, in moments like these.

Jason’s eyelids fluttered open, closed, rinse, repeat. He groaned, swore brutally when you began to clean up his wounds; you had learned a thing or two by this point, and this was nothing you had not handled before. Kory and Roy held him down while you worked, while you stitched and cleaned and bandaged.

Your routine was a well oiled machine. Everything slowed down after that.

“So this is what it takes for you to answer my messages,” you said, voice loud in the fresh silence, tone caught between a soothing murmur and a sardonic dig. “Just get yourself mortally wounded, avoid all that ‘don’t worry, I’m alive,’ small talk.”

Jason swats away his Outlaws, breathed a cuss as he pushed himself unsteadily upright. He tells them to wait in the jet, and they listened only after you shrugged your indifference.

“Mortally wounded. I thought you just saved my life,” he tried to joke, but this time it didn’t quite land. Not with his voice so rough and his blood on your floor.

“Take what you need on your way out,” you offered to his friends (yours too, now, you supposed). A balm in contrast to Jason’s demand.

You shared a look with Roy and Kory before they shut the door behind them.

“Rarely a dull moment.” Jason continued, more to himself than to you. He picked up the bottle of liquor within arms reach. The cap screwed off easy and he took a drink, then another while you hid the bloody dressing in the trash.

You swore you felt every emotion under the sun in the next seconds that passed. You were careful not to overwhelm either of you with any of them.

“Why didn’t you go to the Manor? You know Alfred does a better job than I do.” your fingers grabbed the bottle cap, played with it while your heartbeat rose and rose and rose. Jason probably heard it from across the room.

You knew the answer of course, at least the one he always told you.

He was quiet this time, though. Tired eyes left yours in favor of looking out the window, curtains still wide open to the prying eyes of nightfall. He went over to close them. “You never told me, but you were worried.”

It was a small truth; he had grown to trust you with those.

You wanted to smile, but you pulled a glass down from the cabinet, filled it with water and took it to Jason instead. Tugged the bottle gently out of his hand, replaced it with the glass.

He huffed a laugh, breath hitching when the movement pulled at stitches. Jason shifted his attention back to the city beyond, peeking behind the curtain every so often. His indifference to the last twenty minutes, the last two weeks-

You ventured out, turned the words over in your mind as you spoke them. “I don’t want to ruin your dramatic return.”

“But?”

“Being temporarily ghosted gives a person time to think.”

His lips twisted into a smirk, eyes bright. “Does it?”

“Jay.” you had grown careful with your words, with their delivery, but they always said fortune favored the bold. “I know you’re not my knight in shining armor -”

Jason snorts, took a drink. You were half tempted to push him out the window.

“- and I’m the farthest thing from royalty locked in a tower,” he kept his eyes to the streets, but yours could never leave him again. They didn’t want to, now that he was here in front of you, acting as if he never left. “But it feels . . . it feels like we’re in a fairy tale, sometimes, you know? And then I don’t hear from you for weeks, or you come home with a bullet lodged in your shoulder, and I can’t help but wonder, ‘What the actual hell am I doing?”

Jason looked at you then, expression closing off, bright blues steeled. “What are you doing?”

You don’t know, and you tell him that too.

But you were still here, and you hadn’t told him to leave. He knew that, and you could see him begin to remember, see him begin to let the tension ease up just enough to be casual.

He said nothing before he stole the breath from your lungs, just like he always does.

“’Death and love are yet contending for their prey.’” he quotes, and you allow yourself that small smile then, moving close enough to touch him, for him to touch you.

You wondered how long it would take, for him to start quoting a poet. Little did he know, you spent enough of his time away reading his favorites to feel closer to your anti-hero, and, well. At long last, two could play that game.

“’Though storms may break the primrose on it’s stalk, though frosts may blight the freshness of it’s bloom, yet spring’s awakening breath will woo the earth, to feed with kindliest dews it’s favorite flower, that blooms in mossy banks and darksome glens, lighting the green wood with it’s sunny smile.’”

Jason’s grip on the glass tightened; he had to look away, because – what the fuck.

Shelley always had a way with words, but hearing them spoken in your voice, so raw and practiced with that glint in your eye -

Oh.

The expression he wore now – it was the most real, the most wholeheartedly Jason, you had ever seen. He cleared his throat. “That’s not even the same poem.”

A quiet laugh fell obnoxious and graceless through your lips, and you couldn’t stop it.

“I’ll work on that one next time you leave me.”

Jason Todd pulled you into his arms then, hid his smile in your shoulder as you held him tight, and held him close.